REWASH project: A New Approach to Microplastics—From Waste to Bioactive Compounds / 23.04.2026

The new European project REWASH is opening new pathways in the fight against microplastics—by developing technologies that not only remove them, but also transform them into compounds with potential for cancer treatment.

The project has been selected under the EIC Pathfinder programme for breakthrough technologies with high potential.

Microplastics released from textiles during washing represent a widespread yet invisible form of pollution that ends up in water, soil, and food. Existing solutions merely shift these particles elsewhere rather than solving the problem.

REWASH introduces a different approach: using solar energy, electricity, and specially designed microbial consortia, it converts microplastics into useful chemicals. Instead of producing large quantities of low-value materials, the process yields small amounts of high-value bioactive compounds with applications in medicine.

A key role is played by the Jožef Stefan Institute, where researchers are developing a method based on colloidal biology to organize microbial systems and enable more efficient material conversion.

The project paves the way toward a circular economy in which pollution becomes a resource for advanced materials. The Slovenian part of the project is led by Prof. Dr. Aleš Lapanje from the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Jožef Stefan Institute.