Eco Sustainable Rail aims to valorise mixed plastics in the development of eco-sustainable railway sleepers, which will be tested in a real operating scenario at Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP).
Promoters:
• Extruplás – Reciclagem, Recuperação e Fabrico de Produtos Plásticos, Lda.
• CVR Interface Centre – Centre for Waste Recovery
• PIEP Interface Centre – Innovation Centre for Polymer Engineering
• Participation: Infraestruturas de Portugal
Problems solved
The developments carried out under this project have made it possible, among other things:
• Reduce the deposit of mixed plastics in landfill;
• Respond to a need in the railway sector;
Practical benefits for society
Following the completion of Eco Sustainable Rail, a number of benefits have been realised, such as:
• Valorisation of mixed plastics, which are normally landfilled, in a high added value application, in a clear approach to the circular economy with environmental benefits for the company and society;
• Replacing wooden railway sleepers, as the creosote treatment they are subjected to is about to be banned by the European Commission due to the environmental impacts of its use.
