751445A method to improve the effectiveness in separating and washing PET flakesClosedVouchersInnovate UKPET is used to produce a wide range of products such as drinks bottles. These are now widely recycled. They are shredded, washed, and re-compounded to create fibres for the insulative wadding in clothing/bedding. This is down-cycling as wadding fibre is less valuable than virgin grade material used to produce the drinks bottles. Recovered PET now exceeds demand for 2nd grade (fibre) applications, so the value of this grade PET is very low. The main challenge is to separate flakes so that thorough washing of every flake can be achieved in a cost effective, speedy manner. Our idea will greatly enhance separation & washing of recovered PET flake so it can be used for primary applications at a much higher price & help to reduce the gradual build-up of surplus 2nd grade PET recyclate. We need an independent expert to review the techno-economic feasibility of our idea and the potential market for the technology.