ECODECO

General objective:

The ECODECO project aims to develop innovative, eco-responsible solutions for the metallization and recycling of plastics, integrating an eco-design approach guided by concrete market needs. It focuses on low environmental impact processes, such as plasma metallization and activatable decoating, to extend the life of materials while facilitating their disassembly and recycling.

In parallel, the project will develop a decision-making tool combining technical, environmental and economic criteria, based on advanced characterization tests (nanoindentation, nano-scratch) and a simplified life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. This approach will enable manufacturers to rapidly select the best coating solutions, while reducing trial-and-error phases and the impact of unsuitable prototypes.

ECODECO is thus making a full contribution to the transition to a circular economy by supporting the development of sustainable, recyclable materials that are adapted to today's industrial constraints.

Materia Nova's mission:

Materia Nova plays a central role in the ECODECO project by developing innovative low environmental impact metallization processes for plastics, in particular via plasma technologies and alternatives to conventional electrochemical treatments. The center also ensures the transfer of activatable decoating solutions, developed in the laboratory, to semi-industrial pilot platforms, in order to test their effectiveness under conditions close to real-life application. At the same time, Materia Nova designs and implements simplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools, enabling rapid evaluation of the environmental impact of treatments. The team is also responsible for the production of representative samples and their technical and environmental characterization, with a view to validating their industrial potential. Finally, Materia Nova contributes to the production of demonstrators incorporating the solutions developed, and provides training for partners in the use of environmental assessment tools.

Partners :

UMONS, UNamur, UCLouvain, Cenaero, CTP, CRM

Contact Materia Nova:

Corinne Nouvellon corinne.nouvellon@materianova.be