Despite extensive sorting, packaging waste often contains a mixture of different materials that make high-quality recycling difficult, especially in the case of flexible packaging. This is partly due to the widespread use of multi-layer laminates and packaging consisting of different inseparably combined materials. To improve the post-consumer recyclate quality and develop optimised recycling processes, it is important to generate a comprehensive understanding of the composition of the sorted packaging waste streams. Therefore, in this study, polyolefin sorting fractions for flexible packaging waste from three European countries are analysed in detail. By selective extraction of the different plastics, their mass fractions in the waste streams are determined. This shows that the PE-rich sorting fractions for flexible packaging are made up of 85–90% of PE, but also contain a certain proportion of foreign materials. A detailed analysis of the layer structures of various types of packaging also provides information on the prevalence of multi-layer packaging and the polymer and non-polymer materials used therein. This shows that particularly in food packaging, with 63–84% of multi-layer and 50–70% of multi-material packaging, a high proportion of foreign materials is used and introduced into the sorting fractions. These insights provide a valuable contribution to the development of recyclable packaging, potential sorting streams and recycling processes, especially with regard to the challenges of the closed-loop recycling of food packaging.

Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) based permanent magnets are indispensable in today’s technology-driven society. Moreover, their use is likely to increase since they are key in clean energy applications such as wind turbines, hybrid/electric vehicles, and electric bikes. They contain critical raw materials as rare earth elements are used. Indeed, permanent magnets are considered strategic materials by the EU, and their recycling represents a potential secondary supply to decrease the import dependence. The VALOMAG project is developing a technical solution to recover rare earth (RE) based permanent magnets by dismantling end-of-life (EoL) products such as computer hard disc drives, electric motors, and generators from electric vehicles and wind turbines. It also assesses two short loop recycling technologies: Hydrogen Decrepitation (HD) or Hydrogenation–Disproportionation–Desorption–Recombination (HDDR) and strip-casting for high and medium quality magnet wastes; and hydrometallurgical processes for EoL low-quality magnets. Moreover, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Process Integration with a Flowsheet simulation tool will integrate the whole recycling value chain (collection, dismantling, physical and chemical treatment options, and re-manufacturing) and assess the environmental impact and processes efficiency. A market study on the types and expected future quantities for the scrap magnets and the characterisation of the EoL magnets from hard disc drives (HDD) will be presented as preliminary results. Pre-treatment and sorting of 2.5 tons of NdFeB magnets scraps were carried out, and the two short loop recycling routes and the hydrometallurgical route are under investigation at the lab and pilot scale. The results will be used to develop a process integration and to assess the three routes through LCA.