Renewal of materials and processes

Circular Plastics NL is developing several programs to realize material and process innovations for circular plastics, thus working towards 100% circularity in 2050 and providing sustainable growth opportunities for the Dutch economy. New materials can be developed with subsidies, which can replace materials that are difficult to recycle in the future. Specific cycles can be closed in showcases. The program started in 2023 and is part of the second round of the National Growth Fund.

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

Scientific Research

Brightlands Circular Space

Open grant applications

The Circular Plastics NL scheme for 2025 circular investments opens in January 2025. Entrepreneurs and researchers with ideas for projects that solve bottlenecks in the plastics chain in the Netherlands can apply. This grant scheme with 4 generic research projects and 8 showcases will be put out for CPNL through Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) for innovative projects.

In July 2024, the projects of two grant schemes started:

A RVO-tender for grants intended for companies and/or knowledge institutions from which 5 projects were launched.
A grant application through an NWO call for proposals for proposals from universities, colleges and TO2 institutions from which 10 studies were initiated.

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.

With a comprehensive analysis titled "Volumes in the Plastics Value Chain in the Netherlands," conducted in collaboration with Conversio, CPNL provides an insight on volumes per polymer type, per chain. From December 2024, these in-depth analyses on individual value chains will be published.

Foundation for an efficient and inclusive ecosystem

Together, the program lines form a 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.