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

Incubator

Brightlands Circular Space

Open grant applications

In the fall of 2024, we hope to announce new applications. In April 2024, we expect the review of two grant programs:

A 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 Entrepreneurship 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).

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.