Circular Plastics NL: € 6 million for scientific research into technical innovations

Ten research projects have been allocated in the NWO call: 'Making Plastics Circular: Technical Innovations'. Among other things, this will allow research into developing materials and additives, more effective characterization, sorting and waste technologies and recycling techniques for plastics.
Researchers and entrepreneurs working together
Exploratory and foundational research is being conducted within the Circular Plastics NL Growth Fund program. The research focuses on early developments of concepts (TRL 1-4) with the potential for large-scale applications.
Maurits Boeije, CPNL program manager: "To accelerate the transition to circularity, CPNL meets the urgent need for a scientific and technological knowledge base with research on new polymers and additives and new recycling methods with this call. This funding allows researchers to implement their research plan."
On July 2, following their independent application and review process, NWO announced the award of ten projects. Applications were submitted by universities, universities of applied sciences and TO2 institutions. Six million euros is available for ten projects. Companies will contribute a minimum of ten percent of the total project size per project as co-financing. All studies will last up to five years and fit within one of the following three themes:
- design of circular plastics;
- new characterization, sorting and waste techniques;
- new recycling techniques.
Assigned projects
PolyPulse: Selective polymer recycling by intense light flashes Dr. S.H.C. Askes (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
The recycling of plastics can be greatly improved by treating the polymer with short heat pulses, which prevents the generation of low-grade byproducts. However, this has only been studied for slow heat pulses, which take much longer than chemical reactions. The researchers will improve this technology by treating plastics with extremely short infrared light flashes in a dynamic rhythm. This wireless and remotely controllable technique controls decomposition, minimizes unwanted byproducts, and is customizable for any plastic. PolyPulse focuses on finding pulse rhythms at which the product distribution of photo-thermal decomposition is optimal and takes the first step toward this new circular recycling process. Consortium: Eindhoven University of Technology, Veridis, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Self-assembling polyolefin network materials Prof. Dr. P. Raffa (University of Groningen)
With a market share of more than 60% and with the lowest environmental impact during their life cycle of all polymers, polyolefins play a crucial role in our daily lives. They are mainly used as packaging materials and in consumer products. An increasing amount of polyolefin waste is produced every year. Driven by environmental awareness, a growing amount of this ends up in recycling streams. However, polyolefins are inherently difficult to recycle. Here we propose a conceptually new approach for the production of polyolefin materials with versatile and adaptable properties that are easily processable and much more recyclable than conventional polyolefins. Consortium: Gdansk University of Technology, University of Groningen, SABIC
Designing solid surface composites for recycling (Solid CIRface) Prof. Dr. K.U. Loos (University of Groningen)
SolidCIRface revolutionizes the recyclability of things like kitchen countertops by using dynamic bonds in composite materials. Traditional composites, difficult to recycle, can now be transformed with reversible network rearrangement, ensuring complete recycling of matrix and filler. This project sets a new standard for sustainable materials and promises environmentally friendly, high-quality surface products. Consortium: AOC Resins, Marlan Solid Surface, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, University of Groningen
Towards Circular Use of Pigments in the Recycling of Plastics prof. dr. ir. B.M. Weckhuysen (Utrecht University)
This project aims to develop and use new technologies to recover inorganic and organic dyes from polyesters, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycle streams, and reuse these dyes to synthesize recycled PET materials. The focus will be on commonly used dyes in PET bottles, which are of commercial interest. However, the recovery and reuse of such dyes can only be properly realized if their purity and stability are guaranteed. Consortium: CuRe Technology, Holland Colours, Utrecht University
Improving plastics circularity through simplified quality assessment based on the microplastics index Dr. Ir. A. Boersma (TNO Eindhoven)
The quality of plastics that are recycled generally decreases as they are exposed to mechanical stress and high temperatures. In addition to lower applicability and therefore lower economic value, this also leads to the formation of a greater amount of microplastics. By measuring the quality of plastics during production, use and recycling, better choices can be made as to which plastics to use. The project aims to develop a tool to measure the properties needed to qualify plastics in a faster way on smaller plastic samples. Consortium: Plastics Europe AISBL, TNO, Eindhoven University of Technology
Top-down covalent adaptable and circular epoxy networks Dr. K.V. Bernaerts (Maastricht University)
The European Green Deal promotes a shift to a circular economy by 2050, and challenges polymer science to revolutionize the recycling of cross-linked materials. This project is pioneering an entirely new approach to making widespread epoxy-amine networks (e.g., wind turbine blades) recyclable. The key is a transformation of a bond present in the network to another bond so called reversible behavior under the influence of a stimulus (e.g., temperature), which enables recycling. This breakthrough in the recycling of epoxy-amine networks, will be validated on coatings and composites. Consortium: Maastricht University, Westlake Epoxy
Sustainable and fire-safe plastics based on fully organic phosphorus-sulfur compounds (SuFiP-S) Dr. A. Gooneie (Maastricht University)
Polypropylene (PP) is an important base material for flame retardant products in the electronics and transportation industries. Single-molecule flame retardants (FR) such as phosphorus-sulfur (P-S) FRs represent one of the most advanced systems for PP because of the promising FR behavior at low concentrations. However, these systems are not yet commercially applied because the decomposition mechanisms are not sufficiently known during the processing phase and final application, leading to limited recyclability. This project embraces a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to the degradation, processing and recycling of PP/FR plastics to provide a scientific basis for developing new PP/FR materials and increasing the quantity and quality of recyclate. Consortium: SABIC, Maastricht University
CLEANpack: Towards food safe Closed Loop rEcycling of pAckagiNg prof. dr. ir. S. de Meester (Maastricht University)
The goal of the CLEANpack project is to systematically analyze and improve advanced mechanical recycling technologies (or, more broadly, physical recycling processes) for closed-loop recycling of polyolefin-based food packaging. The project will provide an objective and unique scientific understanding of the potential of the most common advanced mechanical recycling options to achieve food-grade polyolefin recyclate. This work can then be used to guide policy and also investment in these technologies. Consortium: Basell Polyolefin, BASF Chemetall, Danone S.A., The Kraft Heinz Company, Maastricht University, Ghent University
Design for recycling and effective/secure sealing of high-barrier mono-material flexible packaging films prof. R. ten Klooster (University of Twente)
To protect foods from the action of oxygen and/or moisture, materials have been developed that consist of multiple layers such as a layer for sealing, as a carrier, as a barrier against oxygen. These combined materials are often difficult to separate and do not recycle well. Layers made of a single material type with well-matched barrier properties can solve this problem. However, such mono-materials can adhere to seal chisels because the layers have equal melting properties. Thus, other sealing methods are necessary. This project aims to achieve recyclable and sealable mono-materials that have a high barrier against gases and moisture. Consortium: Borealis, Cargill Bioindustrial, TNO, University of Twente
Catalytic extrusion for recycling of plastic waste Dr. I. Vollmer (Utrecht University)
To recycle more plastic, new technologies are needed that produce a higher-quality product. Chemical transformations are promising, but those strong bonds in polyolefin plastics require high temperatures that make control of the transformations difficult and result in a low-value product. In this project, with an interdisciplinary consortium of polymer, catalysis, pyrolysis, extrusion and process evaluation experts, we are going to enable lower temperatures for the transformation by using mechanical forces in an extruder in conjunction with catalysis. This will achieve better control over the transformations and make chemicals such as the building blocks for new plastics. Consortium: Carboliq, Coperion, Ruhr University, Maastricht University, Utrecht University.
Project launch and preview
On November 7, we invite all participants and interested parties to the Transition to Circularity networking event. Here the selected projects are invited to explain their abstracts. In addition to providing insight into the selected projects, the event in Amersfoort offers opportunities to connect with investors, researchers, entrepreneurs and policy makers, among others. More information can be found here: https://circularplasticsnl.org/agenda/transitiontocircularity/
New schemes
In 2024, another €30 million will be made available by CPNL for a new round of grants for entrepreneurs and research institutions. This scheme will be shaped in part by identifying key issues and bottlenecks in the market. After a positive assessment of the mid-term evaluation of the program, a budget of 43 million euros is expected for the period 2025 and 2026.
About NWO
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research funds top researchers, guides Dutch science through programs and manages (inter)national knowledge infrastructure.
About Circular Plastics NL
The program focuses on the bottlenecks within various value chains. The aim is to use subsidies to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, with the ultimate goal of a 100% circular plastics chain in NL in 2050