Programmes and showcases for innovation materials and processes

Circular Plastics NL is developing several programmes including showcases to realise material and process innovations for circular plastics, thus working towards 100% circularity in 2050 and offering the Dutch economy sustainable growth opportunities. New materials are being developed that can replace materials that are difficult to recycle in the future. Specific cycles can be closed in showcases.

In 2023, we expect the opening of two calls (grant schemes) in October:

An RVO tender for grants intended for companies and/or knowledge institutions. This tender will include generic research projects (3) and showcases (9) and will be issued by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
A grant application through an NWO call for proposals from universities, colleges and TO2 institutions. This grant application for research in CPNL's incubator program has a budget of 6 million euros. It is called "Making plastics circular: technical innovations" and will be issued by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

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The CPNL program lines are:

System integration and design

Characterisation, sorting and washing

Mechanical recycling of polyolefin packaging

Recycling of styrene-based materials

Chemical depolymerisation

Thermochemical recycling

Incubator

Brightlands Circular Space

Intensive chain cooperation

The Dutch ambitions (50% circular by 2030, 100% circular by 2050) can only be achieved if the processes and structures in the plastics ecosystem change drastically. This requires intensive chain cooperation and strong financial incentives.

Integral process

The programmes are designed to both close current cycles and develop new recyclable-by-design materials that can replace materials that are difficult to recycle in the future. In doing so, these programs align with several steps in the R-ladder: Reduce, Redesign, Reuse, Recycle and Recover.

Largest material flows

In doing so, we choose five of the largest material streams in the sector, namely polyolefins, PET, styrene-based materials, PUR and rubber. For these material streams, the chains are closed circularly. The results can be used to also close the chains for these plastics in other sectors and to expand to other types of plastics. The chain approach focuses on value retention of plastics in multiple life cycles.

Foundation for an efficient and inclusive ecosystem

Together, the programmes provide the foundation for an efficient and inclusive ecosystem for circular plastics. The program embraces basic research to scale-up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our FAQ page for frequently asked questions and answers about the Circular Plastics NL (CPNL) program.