Over two days and more than 20 presentations, nearly 150 professionals will gather to analyze the legislative context, market trends, and the most innovative technologies. In addition, the first day of this edition will feature, running parallel to the sessions, the first Hackathon of the AIMPLAS-UV PlastiGO Chair. This interdisciplinary competition will see students of chemical engineering, biotechnology, and chemistry present innovative solutions to improve plastics recycling.
The meeting will begin with a session dedicated to the economic and legal context of plastics recycling, addressing key issues such as geopolitics and its impact on waste, presented by Nicolás Molina (FER), and the global landscape of the recycling sector, presented by Óscar Hernández (ANARPLA). Ettore Musacchi (ETRA) will offer insights into tire recycling within the framework of the Green Deal and its impact on competitiveness, while Ángela Osma (ANAIP) will analyze the new packaging regulation focused on recyclability and recycled content. The session will conclude with Irene Mora (Plastics Europe), who will present key data and competitive challenges for the European plastics industry.
The second session will focus on the challenges of waste collection and sorting, with presentations on the application of artificial intelligence in waste management by Roberto Paredes (SOLVER IA), and on advanced waste sorting systems in the footwear sector using machine vision, presented by Daniel Carrero (PICVISA). Marc Puyuelo (COLEO) will address the role of synthetic fibers in textiles and their potential for circularity, and a representative from Griñó will close the session.
Still on the first of the two days, but already in the afternoon, the third session will address mechanical recycling technologies. Adrián Morales (AIMPLAS) will present the challenges and trends in this field, followed by Ángel Martínez (ACTECO), who will present new developments in recycling. Vincent Rerat (BRÜGGEMANN) will analyze the challenge of post-consumer recycling of PP/EPDM, and José Antonio Alarcón (PETCORE) will explain the delamination protocol for multilayer trays developed in collaboration with AIMPLAS.
The day will end with the presentation of the winning proposals of the PlastiGO Hackathon organized by the AIMPLAS-UV Chair, which will have taken place in parallel throughout the first day.
Day Two: Solutions for Complex Waste.
The second day will begin with a session focused on chemical and enzymatic recycling technologies. Santiago Llopis (AIMPLAS) will open the session with the challenges and trends in chemical recycling, followed by Richard Aceituno (GSF), who will address the limitations and improvements in plastic pyrolysis. Irene Méndez (ENTZIMATIKO) will present an innovative biological depolymerization technology without pretreatment, while Hernán Calvo (Plastic Energy) will discuss the opportunities of chemical recycling to boost the circular economy. Jorge Ávila (MODUS) will close the session with the FOAK industrial project for the chemical recycling of plastics and textiles in Spain.
The second session on the 11th will delve into advanced recycling technologies, with Oliver Dietrich (MESSER) explaining the mechanical recycling of rubber and plastic using liquid nitrogen, Carles Gómez (PROMAK) detailing the advantages of twin-screw extruders for improving the quality of recycled plastic, and Peter Kolbe (Kubota Brabender) analyzing strategies for dosing heterogeneous recyclables. Bárbara Franch (UBE) will share real-world success stories in PE/PA recycling.
The seminar will conclude with a session addressing the achievement of objectives by sector, with Jose David Allo (TEXFOR) analyzing the barriers and opportunities of recycling in the textile sector, Paula Quintanilla (SOSTENPLAS) explaining circularity in WEEE plastics, Juan Antonio Ruiz (ANTOLÍN INGENIERÍA) presenting the valorization of plastics in automotive and Helena Abril (AEMAC) debunking the myth of the non-recyclability of composite materials in the wind energy sector.
In addition to the presentations and the parallel AIMPLAS-UV Chair Hackathon, PLASREC will feature workshops on the FREE4LIB and CÍCLICOM projects and, as usual, will include networking opportunities, an exhibitors' area, a scientific poster session, and a tour of the AIMPLAS facilities. All of this is made possible thanks to the support of a dozen sponsoring organizations: PICVISA, GSF Upcycling, ENTZIMATIKO, PROMAK Solutions, Gravipes, Kubota Brabender, ANARPLA, ANAIP, Mayper, Acteco, Intecsa Industrial (MODUS), and Messer.
The third edition of PLASREC will be the most sustainable to date, as this time AIMPLAS is collaborating with the Revivack platform, which has issued the center a Circular Pass, guaranteeing the traceability and recovery of the materials used in the event, ensuring that merchandising, roll-ups and other elements have a circular destination, thus reducing the environmental footprint.
