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The REDONDO project held its first workshop on September 26, 2024, hosted by our CNRS partner at the Institut Charles Gerhardt (ICGM) at Montpellier. Titled “Polyethylene: An old material with unrivalled properties”, the workshop attracted 80 in-person and online registrations. Experts from academia and industry, representing Europe and the U.S., delivered highly engaging presentations, that contributed to the workshop’s success.

The workshop was opened by Sylvain Caillol who showcased the REDONDO project’s objectives, strategies and the partners’ roles. Following him, Jean Raynaud, from the CP2M research group in Lyon, took the floor, with a talk entitled “Polyolefins & Polyethylenes in particular: from cradle to grave to cradle again”. After an interesting introduction on polyethylene (PE) structure and properties, he focused on the different catalysts used for the synthesis of PEs, notably the various Ziegler-Natta catalysts that are used nowadays, and how transition-metal catalysis has enabled new strategies for the chemical recycling of PEs. Nicolaÿ Renaud, from the ESPCI group, followed with his talk entitled “Crosslinked recyclable polyethylene obtained by reactive processing”, highlighting strategies for PE/PP compatibilization and their potential to improve mechanical recycling, and discussing the crosslinking of PE using triazine based small molecules. The morning session was closed by Ahmad Al Farra, from TotalEnergies France, with his talk Let's turn plastics into green gold! featuring the strategies developed by Total to improve the sustainability of commodity polymers.

After a well-deserved break, Jaime C. Grunlan, from the Texas A&M University (U.S.), presented his team’s research on novel flame-retardant materials, in his talk Bio–Based and Environmentally Benign Polyelectrolyte Coatings for Flame Retardancy and Food Protection. The workshop was concluded by Emmanuel Richaud, from the ENSAM in Paris, who, through his talk Multiscale study of polyolefins oxidation, detailed the basics about oxidative degradation and its consequences on polyolefins, and how ageing can be modelled in order to predict polyolefins lifetime.

The workshop is over, but all presentations are available on the REDONDO’s project new YouTube channel. Do not hesitate to check them out. We would like to extend our thanks to Vincent Ladmiral and Sylvain Caillol for the great organisation, to all the speakers for travelling to Montpellier and sharing their experience and knowledge, and to all the participants for their engagement and questions.

Multiscale study of polyolefins oxidation, Emmanuel Richaud, ENSAM, Paris, France

About the Workshop:
Polyethylene, an old material with unrivaled properties
26 September 2024 | ICGM, Montpellier, France

In the framework of the European project REDONDO (Reversibly Designed Cross-linked Polymers, www.redondo-project.eu), ICGM hosted a one-day workshop dedicated to polyethylene (PE), the most simple polymer and one of the oldest, yet, by far the most produced polymer in the world. Owing to is outstanding properties and versatility, PE is used in innumerable applications from mundane plastic bags to life-saving prosthetics. This workshop, organized around invited lectures given by experts from universities and from the private sector of this polymer material, provided a detailed overview of the syntheses, modifications, properties, aging, vitrimerisation, and recycling strategies and methods, as well as the future directions of research and development that should be envisaged for this outstanding polymer.

Bio–Based and Environmentally Benign Polyelectrolyte Coatings for Flame Retardancy and Food Protection, Jaime C. Grunlan, Texas A&M University, USA

About the Workshop:
Polyethylene, an old material with unrivaled properties
26 September 2024 | ICGM, Montpellier, France

In the framework of the European project REDONDO (Reversibly Designed Cross-linked Polymers, www.redondo-project.eu), ICGM hosted a one-day workshop dedicated to polyethylene (PE), the most simple polymer and one of the oldest, yet, by far the most produced polymer in the world. Owing to is outstanding properties and versatility, PE is used in innumerable applications from mundane plastic bags to life-saving prosthetics. This workshop, organized around invited lectures given by experts from universities and from the private sector of this polymer material, provided a detailed overview of the syntheses, modifications, properties, aging, vitrimerisation, and recycling strategies and methods, as well as the future directions of research and development that should be envisaged for this outstanding polymer.

Crosslinked recyclable polyethylene obtained by reactive processing, Renaud Nicolaÿ, ESPCI, Paris, France

About the Workshop:
Polyethylene, an old material with unrivaled properties
26 September 2024 | ICGM, Montpellier, France

In the framework of the European project REDONDO (Reversibly Designed Cross-linked Polymers, www.redondo-project.eu), ICGM hosted a one-day workshop dedicated to polyethylene (PE), the most simple polymer and one of the oldest, yet, by far the most produced polymer in the world. Owing to is outstanding properties and versatility, PE is used in innumerable applications from mundane plastic bags to life-saving prosthetics. This workshop, organized around invited lectures given by experts from universities and from the private sector of this polymer material, provided a detailed overview of the syntheses, modifications, properties, aging, vitrimerisation, and recycling strategies and methods, as well as the future directions of research and development that should be envisaged for this outstanding polymer.

Polyolefins & Polyethylenes in Particular: From Cradle to Grave to Cradle Again, Jean Raynaud, CP2M, CNRS, Lyon, France

About the Workshop:
Polyethylene, an old material with unrivaled properties
26 September 2024 | ICGM, Montpellier, France

In the framework of the European project REDONDO (Reversibly Designed Cross-linked Polymers, www.redondo-project.eu), ICGM hosted a one-day workshop dedicated to polyethylene (PE), the most simple polymer and one of the oldest, yet, by far the most produced polymer in the world. Owing to is outstanding properties and versatility, PE is used in innumerable applications from mundane plastic bags to life-saving prosthetics. This workshop, organized around invited lectures given by experts from universities and from the private sector of this polymer material, provided a detailed overview of the syntheses, modifications, properties, aging, vitrimerisation, and recycling strategies and methods, as well as the future directions of research and development that should be envisaged for this outstanding polymer.

Cellulose derivative additives for composites production: potential use and applications, Pilar Albaladejo Sánchez, ΙΤΕΝΕ

About the Workshop:
Biobased Nanoadditives in Polymer Composites

In the context of Dissemination and communication activities of the REDONDO Project, RDC Informatics and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) organized an Online Workshop, presenting the latest advancements in developing biobased additives and advanced polymer composites. Leading experts from the REDONDO project, alongside colleagues from SURPASS, ESTELLA, and REPURPOSE projects –sister projects of REDONDO– shared valuable insights into the synthesis, properties, and applications of biobased additives and polymer composites

The REDONDO project has now been running for two years and the latest progress was discussed in the resent consortium meeting (M24) hosted by our CNRS partner at the Institut Charles Gerhardt (ICGM) at Montpellier, on the 25 of September 2024. In addition, on the 26/09/2024, Vincent Ladmiral and Sylvain Caillol’s team organised a highly engaging workshop on polyethylene, gathering over 60 participants  both in person and online.  

The consortium meeting was opened by Sylvain Caillol and Dimitrios Bikiaris, the coordinator of the project, and then the WP and Task leaders presented the work performed in the last 6 months of the project. Feedback on the review process was given in the context of WP1, the coordination and management work package. WP2 came to an end at M24, with the submission of the second deliverable, an update of the first submitted deliverable, which was presented to the consortium. 

Then, ITENE took the floor, to describe their work on the safety aspects of the project (WP6), introducing the criteria according to which chemicals are rated regarding their safety and presenting initial hazard assessments on some key chemicals used in REDONDO. 

Promising results were discussed within the context of WP3, with AUTH presenting initial results on the successful synthesis of reversibly cross-linked HDPE and CNRS on the functionalisation of PE with furan moieties and first cross-linking attempts. 

The progress with composite materials were discussed in WP4&5. In WP4, CNANO and ITENE shared their latest results on the preparation and modification of nanolignin and nanocellulose respectively, while AUTH and AIMEN, for WP4 and WP5 respectively, presented their work on low- and high-density polyethylene/nanolignin composites. All these results will soon be available to the public through several scientific publications. 

Next, in WP7, ISQ presented preliminary environmental impact assessments, conducted both on REDONDO’s products and on benchmark commercial products for comparison, along with the sustainability criteria and scoring system. AIMEN shared the work planned within Task 7.2 and the first data collected for the additives inventory. Finally, the initial steps for the development of the PLACE-me tool were discussed (Task 7.5). 

Last but not least, in the context of WP8, RDC presented the updated analytics on REDONDO’s social media and the project’s dissemination activities (conferences and events) and AXIA their work on risk analysis of the various key exploitable results (KERs) of the project, initial patent mapping, suggesting potential patentability, and business canvases for the consortium’s private companies.

Overall, REDONDO is at a turning point of its journey: feedback from the EC and the reviewer was highly positive regarding the first 18 months, and despite a challenging start, exciting developments are expected in the upcoming semester!

The REDONDO team is delighted to announce the success of its first online workshop entitled “Biobased nanoadditives in polymer composites”, that was held on the 13^th of June. 70 participants subscribed to the workshop and had the opportunity to engage in interesting presentations on polymer composites with biobased additives.

A general overview of the REDONDO project was presented by its coordinator, Prof. Dimitrios Bikiaris, while REDONDO experts gave insights about the research work developed within the project: Pilar Albaladejo Sánchez, from ITENE research centre, gave an overview of the cellulose additives for composites and their applications, Alexander Tiniakos, from Creative Nano, and Οlalla Sánchez Sobrado, from AIMEN innovation and technology centre, discussed the use of (nano)lignin in polymer composites, and Alexandra Zamboulis, from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, presented tannic acid-based composites. These presentations were complemented by valuable contributions from the sister projects: Caroline Piffet, from Celabor, discussed the incorporation of cellulose nanofibers in epoxy resins (ESTELLA project), Zsófia Kádár, from Bio Base Europe Pilot Plan, shared the first achievements of the REPurpose project, and Andrea Tummino and Ashwinikumar Sharma, from the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique, presented the development of biobased materials for building and railroads (SURPASS project). The workshop was concluded by a lively Q&A session and discussion, with fruitful exchanges and networking opportunities.

After the success of this first workshop, the second REDONDO workshop is already being organised in Montpellier, on the 27^th of September, while a closer collaboration and further workshops will be organised with the sister projects: ESTELLA, REPurpose and SURPASS.

REDONDO, i.e., Reversibly Designed Cross-linked Polymers, is a Horizon Europe project that deals with cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) and strategies to introduce recyclability in PEX products to improve their environmental footprint. Biobased nanoadditives will be used to confer improved or new properties the new PEX materials. Find out more on our website and stay informed about future activities on LinkedIn and Facebook.

The REDONDO project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon programme under the Grant Agreement No. 101058449. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA, Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The coordinator of the project, Pr. Dimitrios Bikiaris, introduced the REDONDO project with a concise overview of the project and then the WP and Task leaders presented the work performed in the first 18 months of the project. In WP1, the coordination and management WP, led by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), focus was given on the tools set up to facilitate the management of the project and the deliverables and milestones submitted/achieved. In WP2, led by SILON, the requirements and specifications of the raw rPEX material, the pipes and cables that will be produced with rPEX were defined and the process to define recyclability-by-design criteria and recycling scenarios were presented. More technical discussions started with WP3, led by AUTH, where both leading partners presented their results regarding the synthesis of rPEX. Animated discussions took place in the framework of WP4, led by CNANO. In this WP, the targeted biobased nano-additives have been synthesised, and several chemical modifications have also been performed, composite materials with these additives were prepared and their properties evaluated. Among those, good antioxidant properties must be cited, as well as some promising results with flame-retardancy. Moving on to WP5, led by SILON, benchmark materials (LDPE and HDPE) and two different lignin-based additives supplied by CNANO were used to assess the processes that will be used and establish protocols and best practices; these will be further extended to the REDONDO materials and cellulose-based additives in the coming months. Additionally, SILON, KBE and Interplast presented their roles and tasks in the context of WP5, that will start later. The methodology that will be applied to define safe-by-design criteria was presented within the context of WP6, led by ITENE. The ranking system was illustrated by an example with lignin modification and the different chemicals employed in these processes. Finally, the methods for the experimental assessment of the safety aspects of the project waw presented. WP7, led by ISQ, is the work package dedicated to sustainability. Ιn this context, preliminary results from LCA and socio-economical analysis regarding the production of bio-based additives, the methodology to define sustainability criteria, the progress with the additives inventory and the objectives of the Place-me tool were presented. Finally, the activities of WP8, led by AXIA, were presented. In more details, the Task 8.1 and 8.2 presentation included the dissemination and communication plan, the REDONDO website (design principle and analytics), the partner’s collaboration platform (partners area) and its potential as well as the open innovation environment, the data management plan, the social media pages of the project and some analytics, the dissemination material that has been designed and the events in which REDONDO has been presented. Finally, work carried out within Tasks 8.3 and 8.4 was reported: the definition of the key exploitable results (KER), the market analysis, the SWOT and PESTLE analysis performed for each KER group, the business model canvas carried out for the SMEs and SILON, and finally the risk analysis.

The discussion developed within the consortium were fruitful and the feedback from the PO and the external evaluator regarding this first reporting period was very positive. Constructive suggestions were made that will be soon implemented. The project is on track, with a lot of developments to come in the next few months.

We are looking forward to the next consortium meeting in September 2024 that will be hosted by CNRS partner at Montpellier. The consortium meeting will be combined with a workshop on reversibility, with interesting talks to be further announced!

Figure 1: REDONDO’s M18 Meeting attendees

Starting from WP1, presented by the coordinating partner, focus was given on the review meeting and the technical and financial reports that will have to be submitted at M18. In WP2, the submitted deliverable was presented as well as the updates that will be included in the next one. More technical discussions started with WP3, where both leading partners presented their first results regarding the synthesis of rPEX. Animated discussions took place in the framework of WP4, where not only targeted biobased nano-additives have been synthesised, but the first composite materials with these additives have already been prepared. The properties of the various composite materials were discussed, with SILON presenting the first results on flame retardancy which were much expected. Moving on to WP5, benchmark materials and processes were assessed and used for initial trials to establish protocols and best practices; these will be further extended to the REDONDO materials and additives in the coming months. The methodologies that will be applied to implement the safety aspects of the project were presented within the context of WP6. WP7 is the work package dedicated to sustainability and the different approaches that will be considered within the project were developed by each partner participating in it. Finally, the consortium meeting ended with the activities of WP8 and the presentation of the dissemination channels of the project, the Zenodo open access environment and how the datasets generated during the project will be uploaded there, the initial business plans and the SWOT analyses performed for the industrial partners of the project, and the results obtained from questionnaires regarding IP management.

Special mention was made by several partners to the synergies and collaborations that are being developed with the sister projects, i.e., the projects SURPASS, ESTELLA and REPURPOSE that were successful in the same Horizon call as REDONDO. A common workshop on the concept of safety and sustainability by design is being scheduled for the 19th of October, while the additives inventory has been identified as another common ground for potential collaboration between the four projects.

We are already looking forward to the next consortium meeting in 2024 that will be hosted by SILON and will be the opportunity to present to the EC the progress of the project and discuss any issues faced by the consortium.

Figure 1: REDONDO’s M12 Meeting attendees

PE is a thermoplastic polymer, which in layman’s terms means that it can be melted and processed. To improve its properties, PE is chemically cross-linked. During cross-linking, new intra-chain bonds are formed between the linear chains of PE, linking the chains together in a network. Compared to PE, cross-linked PE (PEX) exhibits higher thermal stability, better chemical resistance and improved structural integrity. However, due to the existence of cross-links, PEX cannot be melted and recycled/reused, and it is generally downcycled as a filler in other composite materials.

REDONDO aims to achieve a fully reversible cross-linking process, that will enable the synthesis of a reversibly cross-linked polyethylene (rPEX), that will be inherently recyclable and thus sustainable-by-design. Additionally, innovative biobased & green additives, such as nanolignin and nanocellulose, will be used to confer to rPEX novel/improved properties. The successful synthesis of rPEX will be demonstrated in two applications: pipes and cables for photovoltaic applications. Furthermore, safe- and sustainable-by-design concepts will be adopted. Indeed, the sustainability and safety of the newly developed rPEX materials are very important and will be assessed throughout the project, from the design phase, to the rPEX formulation and the final products. Finally, REDONDO pioneers with a provision of a circular monitoring tool, PLACE-me, integrating principles of safety- and sustainability-by-design (SSbD) along with a holistic value chain assessment.

Figure 1: REDONDO’s Concept

REDONDO is funded by the European Union’s Horizon research and innovation program. The project is coordinated by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Greece. Highly skilled scientists, across the whole value chain, from the design of the polymeric materials to the end-users, with complementary expertise have joined their efforts in this project. The consortium is composed of 11 partners from 6 different European countries and involves academic and research institutions, SME’s as well as a large enterprise.

The kick-off meeting (KoM) took place in Thessaloniki (Greece) in September 2023. It was held at Aristotle University Research and Dissemination Center (KEDEA) and was attended by partners from the whole consortium. Each partner presented their tasks, milestones, and deliverables in the project. Technical elements of the projects were discussed, as well as how the different tasks and work packages would be efficiently coordinated. The partners had fruitful exchanges and everyone looked forward to the next face-to-face actions of the project.

Figure 2: REDONDO’s KoM attendees