The DECOAT project, formally titled Recycling of coated and painted textile and plastic materials, was funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. It ran from January 2019 to July 2023, with a total budget of EUR 5.97 million, of which EUR 5.90 million was funded through EU contribution. Coordinated by CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DE L’INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE (Belgium), the consortium brought together research organisations, universities, technology providers, industrial manufacturers, and recycling experts from across Europe. The project aimed to enable the circular use of coated textiles and plastics by developing triggerable smart materials and innovative recycling processes that can separate coatings from substrates on demand. This included the use of debondingondemand technologies, meaning coatings and adhesive layers that remain stable during use but can be intentionally released when exposed to a specific trigger, allowing fibres and polymers to be cleanly recovered. By addressing this long‑standing barrier to recycling, DECOAT sought to support high‑quality material recovery in multiple industrial sectors. 

A key part of DECOAT was the development of novel debonding‑on‑demand technologies and associated recycling processes to support the circularity of coated textile and plastic products.

Key achievements of the project include:

• Development of multiple triggerable additives, such as thermo‑responsive core‑shell structures, microwave susceptors and super‑absorbing polymer triggers, designed to enable controlled debonding of coatings when exposed to heat, steam, microwaves or other defined triggers.
• Integration of these smart additives into plastics paints, textile coatings and primer layers, alongside extensive validation of debonding efficiency across different trigger types and material combinations.
• Successful demonstration of a solvent‑based process capable of removing coatings and paints from plastics and textiles using greener solvents, enabling the separation of pure polymer streams for reprocessing.
• Establishment of a pilot sorting line using fluorescent dyes for optical detection, ensuring that coated waste streams can be accurately directed to the appropriate recycling process.
• Development and validation of pilot equipment for microwave‑based debonding, along with multiple closed‑loop recycling trials assessing material quality, reprocessing cycles and the effects of residual coatings.
• Completion of safety assessments, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) studies covering all developed triggers and recycling processes.
• Creation of a publicly available eco‑design tool to support designers and manufacturers in developing recyclable‑by‑design coated products.
• Wide dissemination of project results through press releases, a public website, explainer videos, newsletters, webinars on plastics and textiles recycling, conference contributions, and a final event at the European Coating Show. 

DECOAT contributed directly to advancing circularity and innovation of European industries by providing technical solutions that enable recycling of coated textiles and plastic parts, which are typically landfilled or incinerated due to the difficulty of separating coatings from substrates. By introducing debonding‑on‑demand additives, optical sorting methods and advanced solvent‑based removal processes, the project provided new technological solutions that enable coated materials from automotive, electronics and textiles sectors to re‑enter the value chain. These innovations support the EU’s circular economy objectives by reducing waste, lowering carbon footprints, and improving material recovery rates. The project’s eco‑design tools and validated recycling processes help industry design products that meet emerging regulatory requirements such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes and mandatory recycled content targets, thereby strengthening long‑term competitiveness and resilience. 

DECOAT was coordinated by CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DE L’INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE and involved partners from Belgium, Spain, Germany, Greece, Türkiye, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Austria. The consortium brought together experts in materials science, coatings, recycling technologies, polymer chemistry, industrial manufacturing and sustainability analysis. This strong European collaboration enabled extensive knowledge exchange across triggerable materials development, optical sorting, solvent‑based recycling, safety assessment and circular design strategies. Knowledge transfer was supported through workshops, public webinars, industry events, videos, and a project website that hosted updates and resources throughout the project.