At ERT, a company in the automotive textile sector, PVC synthetic leather is often used to produce multi-layer textiles. As a result, post-industrial waste is generated, which is now sent to landfill. The development of a PVC recovery process is intended to extract the PVC molecule from the synthetic leather present in the multi-layer textile. Next, the aim will be to produce a new recycled leather model by introducing recovered PVC. In this way, the cycle of this waste is closed, contributing to the circularity of the company’s processes.

In order to make it possible to develop the PVC recovery process, ERT selected multilayer textile references, which it sent to AIMPLAS along with the technical information. AIMPLAS then carried out various recovery tests using solvents, prioritising the most sustainable ones. After evaluating the LCA, it was concluded that the solvents with the best scores were cyclohexanone and ChCl:Lactic Acid. They will therefore be used in future tests to continue developments.

The process will have a very positive effect on the circularity of the company’s processes. Currently, multi-layer textile waste, which includes PVC synthetic leather, goes to landfill because there is no other treatment option. By using this process, it should be possible to convert waste into raw materials, closing the waste cycle.