Leading home appliance manufacturers and plastic recyclers have been working in the RE-CET project since May 2018 to increase the use of recycled plastics in electrical appliances.

One of the first concrete projects is the standardization of recycled plastic in vacuum cleaners. On 12 October 2020 Philips, Electrolux, BSH, Arcelik, Veolia, Coolrec and Comet Traitements signed the Cooperation Agreement to develop a generic recycled plastic grade for the bottom plate of vacuum cleaners. This marks a crucial step to large scale use of recycled plastics. Partners for Innovation has guided the process and will analyze the various specifications of the rPP that manufacturers use in vacuum cleaners and will make a proposal for the bandwidth of the standard.

Colorful mix of plastics

Currently, recycled plastics are already applied in household appliances, e.g. in bottom plates of vacuum cleaners. However, many different types of plastic compounds are used. Due to the small volumes this inhibits effective and cost-efficient recycling and is thus problematic for the supply of recycled plastics.

Whole value chain benefits

Standardisation can reduce the large variation in plastics, of which the whole value chain will benefit. Recycling will improve when leading manufacturers agree on a grade of recycled plastics to be used for a specific component. Simultaneously, it becomes easier for them to source the recycled plastics.

Next generation vacuum cleaners

Now that the agreement is signed, manufacturers and recyclers will start discussions on the requirements for a common grade. Hopefully this is the start of a new generation of vacuum cleaners, all made from recycled plastic with the same properties supplied by different recyclers.

RE-CET

This standardisation project is part of RE-CET, a project group in which brand owners and recyclers work together in pilot projects to increase the use of recycled plastics in electronic devices. The RE-CET project is currently funded by Rijkswaterstaat, part of the Dutch Government. RE-CET is a project powered by CIRCO.  Partners for Innovators is one of the initiators of RE-CET.

For more information, please contact Flora Poppelaars.

With this project we contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations: