Plastic recycling : Closing the loop: Sirmax turns industrial waste into a sustainability win for De' Longhi
The partnership between Sirmax Group and De' Longhi has resulted in the Eletta Ultra, a super-automatic coffee machine whose exterior parts are manufactured using up to 70% recycled plastic. The key material is Green Isoter, a compound developed by Sirmax comprising 70% recycled ABS plastic sourced from end-of-life electronic components within the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) stream.
Sirmax tailored the compound to De' Longhi's precise specifications, including compatibility with both matt and glossy surface finishes and the stability to deliver consistent moulding parameters over time. Beyond the aesthetic components, recycled materials in varying proportions and with different polymer resins have also been used in structural parts requiring high mechanical and thermal resistance.
From end-of-life electronics to high-value applications
What makes this project technically noteworthy is its use of post-consumer, closed-loop raw materials — plastic recovered from household waste via the WEEE stream — in visible, aesthetic applications rather than hidden structural uses. Achieving the required surface quality and colour consistency from such feedstocks is widely considered one of the more demanding challenges in plastics recycling.
"This project demonstrates in particular that it is possible to use high percentages of 'closed-loop' post-consumer plastic from the WEEE stream for high-value and aesthetic applications, whilst maintaining the required technical properties. This is no small achievement, requiring advanced expertise in which we have made enormous strides and on which we are placing great emphasis," said Massimo Pavin, President and CEO of Sirmax Group.
A circular economy milestone recognised internationally
The Eletta Ultra will be presented at the 2026 edition of Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRSE), held in Amsterdam from 5 to 6 May, where it is among the five finalists for the PRSE Award — the event's prize recognising excellence in the use of recycled materials, product design and manufacturing. The machine has been shortlisted in the Automotive, Electrical or Electronic Product of the Year category.
Pavin noted that the project reflects Sirmax's broader strategic direction: "The collaboration with De' Longhi confirms our ability to supply innovative, high-performance and sustainable materials for the most demanding projects, in line with the commitment and investments made by our Group in customised design according to the principles of the Circular Economy."
For the waste management industry, the case illustrates a growing opportunity: as material science advances and regulatory pressure on producers increases, the market for high-quality recycled feedstocks sourced from WEEE and other post-consumer streams is set to expand significantly.