Terminus, FHNW School of Life Sciences

TERMINUS addresses the challenge of unlocking recycling and reuse of flexible multi-layer and multi-compounds packaging materials used for food, beverages, cosmetics, pet food, fertilisers, and perishable goods in general. It will develop a range of smart enzyme-containing polymers with triggered intrinsic self-biodegradation properties, acting as adhesives or tie layers in the design and manufacturing of multi-layer plastics for food and non-food applications. The technology will be applied to biodegradable polyurethane reactive (PUR)-based adhesives for adhesive lamination and extrusion coating lamination, and polymers and tie layers polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene carbonate (PPC) or Polycaprolactone (PCL) in blown extrusion.

TERMINUS will base its innovative and challenging objectives on a cross-disciplinary team of renowned organizations with expertise in:

• enzymatic biodegradation of polymers
• thermal protection of enzymes using nm organosilica and layered double hydroxid cyclodextrins
• UV and water triggered enzymatic activity
• formulation of advanced polymers
• manufacturing of multilayer plastic packaging
• plastics recycling

TERMINUS is based on technology readiness level (TRL) 3 technologies and will reach TRL5. It will result in major market opportunities for European industrials in several well-established markets ready for market opportunities:

• plastic packaging (TPPS, STTP)
• industrial enzyme applications (BIOPOX)
• PUR adhesives (COVESTRO)
• biodegradable plastics (IPC)
• biotech plants (OWS)
• mechanical recycling (SIGMA)

At least 15% of improvement of economic efficiency vs. current solutions (landfilling, incineration) are expected. A reduction of landfilling for multi-layer plastic packaging over 80% together with a reduction of overall plastic landfilling by 55% will be achieved with a minimum decrease by 65% of the overall CO₂ footprint. TERMINUS will be a breakthrough in reaching the 2030 European Commission objective to recycle 100% plastic packaging

The FHNW School of Life Sciences will develop nanocontainers that release redox-mediators upon triggering signals.  The redox mediators can be oxidized by a protected immobilized laccase. To turn back to their reduced state, the redox mediators introduce scissions in the polymer glue, facilitating the delamination of multilayered packaging.

EU project website