PolyCE · Project

Turning Recycled Electronics Plastics Into Reliable Raw Material for New Products

manufacturingPilotedTRL 7

When you throw away an old TV or phone, the plastic usually ends up in a landfill — even though the metal parts get recycled just fine. The problem is nobody trusts recycled plastic enough to put it back into new electronics. PolyCE figured out how to grade and certify recycled plastics from electronic waste so manufacturers like Philips and Whirlpool can actually use them in new products. Think of it like creating a quality rating system — the way we grade eggs or steel — but for recycled plastic, so buyers know exactly what they're getting.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the value chain

countries represented in the consortium

industrial demonstrators built and validated

industry partners in the consortium

SMEs participating in the project

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Electronics and appliance manufacturers face growing regulatory pressure to use recycled plastics, but recycled WEEE plastics lack standardized quality grades — so engineers cannot trust them the way they trust virgin material. Without reliable specifications, recycled plastic stays stuck as low-value waste while manufacturers pay premium prices for new plastic they could replace.

The solution

What was built

PolyCE built 8 physical product demonstrators with companies like Philips, Whirlpool, and ONA using recycled WEEE plastics. They also developed a grading system that classifies recycled plastics by material properties and application suitability, an online marketplace platform for graded recycled plastics, and design guidelines for building new electronics with recycled materials.

Audience

Who needs this

Electronics manufacturers needing to meet recycled content targetsHome appliance makers designing products with recycled plasticsWEEE recyclers wanting to sell graded plastics at higher marginsPlastics compounders looking for certified recycled feedstock specificationsPublic procurement offices implementing green purchasing requirements

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Consumer electronics

enterprise

Target: Electronics manufacturers producing TVs, monitors, lighting, or smartphones

If you are an electronics manufacturer struggling to meet EU recycled content targets — this project developed a grading system for recycled plastics from electronic waste and validated it with working Philips and LED lighting demonstrators. You get tested material specifications so your engineering team can design with recycled plastic the same way they design with virgin material.

Home appliances

enterprise

Target: White goods manufacturers producing washing machines, fridges, or dishwashers

If you are an appliance maker facing pressure to increase recycled content in your products — PolyCE built a Whirlpool large domestic appliance demonstrator proving recycled WEEE plastics can meet the mechanical and safety requirements for household appliances. The project delivered technical guidelines for designing new products with recycled plastics.

Plastics recycling and processing

any

Target: WEEE recyclers and plastics compounders

If you are a plastics recycler sitting on growing volumes of WEEE plastic with no premium buyers — PolyCE created a grade system that classifies recycled plastics by material properties and application suitability, plus an online platform to connect graded material with manufacturers. This turns your commodity waste stream into a specification-grade product.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does it cost to switch from virgin to recycled WEEE plastics?

The project data does not include specific cost comparisons between virgin and recycled plastics. However, PolyCE assessed both technical and economic feasibility across 8 demonstrators with companies like Philips and Whirlpool, suggesting the economics were validated at industrial product level.

Can this work at industrial production scale?

Yes. PolyCE ran 8 demonstrators with industrial partners including Philips (consumer electronics), Whirlpool (large domestic appliances), and ONA (LED lighting). With 12 industry partners and 55% industry ratio in the consortium, the project was designed for industrial-scale validation, not lab-only testing.

Who owns the IP and can I license the grading system?

The project was coordinated by Fraunhofer with 22 partners across 10 countries. IP is likely distributed among consortium members under the Horizon 2020 grant agreement. Contact Fraunhofer or check the project website for licensing terms on the plastics grade system and design guidelines.

Does this help with upcoming EU recycled content regulations?

Directly. PolyCE developed harmonized technical requirements for the entire value chain and provided policy input on technical feasibility. The grading system and design guidelines give manufacturers a ready-made compliance pathway for recycled content mandates in electronics and appliances.

What types of recycled plastics were actually tested?

The project focused on post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). They also assessed non-WEEE PCR plastics for electrical and electronic applications, and tested PCR material for 3D printing — broadening the range of usable recycled feedstock.

Is there a marketplace where I can buy graded recycled plastics?

PolyCE developed an online platform integrating different plastic grades classified by material properties and application suitability. Based on available project data, this platform was designed to strengthen the market for recycled plastics by connecting recyclers with manufacturers.

Consortium

Who built it

The PolyCE consortium of 22 partners across 10 countries is heavily industry-weighted at 55%, which is a strong signal for business relevance. Coordinated by Fraunhofer — one of Europe's most respected applied research organizations — the project brought together 12 industry players and 7 SMEs alongside 5 universities and 2 research institutes. The presence of major brands like Philips and Whirlpool as demonstrator leads means the results were tested against real commercial product standards, not just academic benchmarks. With partners spanning from Japan to Finland, the supply chain coverage runs from waste collection (ECODOM) through recycling and compounding to final product manufacturing.

UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITYparticipant · JP
EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL BUREAUparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITEIT GENTparticipant · BE
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATIONparticipant · UK
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
PHILIPS CONSUMER LIFESTYLE BVparticipant · NL
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT BERLINparticipant · DE
BEKO ITALY MANUFACTURING SRLparticipant · IT
SITRAPLAS GMBHparticipant · DE
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEDERLAND BVparticipant · NL
PROLABIN & TEFARM SRLparticipant · IT
CIRCULAR DEVICES OYparticipant · FI
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENparticipant · BE
ECODOM-CONSORZIO ITALIANO PER IL RECUPERO E RICICLAGGIO ELETTRODparticipant · IT
ERION COMPLIANCE ORGANIZATION SCARLparticipant · IT
ONA PRODUCT SLparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (Germany) — search for PolyCE project coordinator at Fraunhofer for direct contact

Order a report on this consortium

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the PolyCE team about their recycled plastics grading system or design guidelines? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the right consortium partner for your specific application.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0