Dutch Government Funds Circular Plastics Research at Maastricht University
Maastricht, Monday, 22 July 2024.
Maastricht University secures funding for three projects aimed at advancing circular plastics technology. The research, part of a €6 million initiative, focuses on improving recycling of food packaging and developing recyclable materials for various industries.
Collaboration with Industry Leaders
Maastricht University is collaborating with major players in the food and chemical industries, including Danone, The Kraft Heinz Company, and BASF Chemetall, to advance recycling technologies for polyolefin-based food packaging. These partnerships are part of the CLEANpack project, which aims to enhance the recyclability of these materials and provide scientific insights to guide policy and investment in mechanical recycling technologies. By combining academic research with industry expertise, these collaborations aim to create scalable solutions that can be implemented across various sectors.
Targeting Ambitious Recycling Goals
The Netherlands currently recycles only 15% of the one million tons of plastics discarded annually. However, ambitious targets have been set to recycle 50% by 2030 and achieve complete circularity by 2050. The funding from the Dutch government is part of the National Growth Fund program, which aims to invest €20 billion between 2021 and 2025 in projects supporting long-term economic growth. The €6 million dedicated to the Making Plastics Circular: Technical Innovations initiative will be distributed among ten projects, each focusing on different aspects of plastics recycling such as design, characterization, sorting, and recycling.
Innovative Research Projects
Maastricht University is at the forefront of these efforts, working on three of the selected research projects. In addition to the CLEANpack project, the university is collaborating with SABIC to increase the amount and quality of recyclate using fully organic phosphorous-sulphur compounds. Another project with Westlake Epoxy is focused on developing a process for making epoxy-amine networks recyclable through reversible behavior under a stimulus such as temperature. These networks are commonly used in wind turbine blades, which are currently challenging to recycle.
Broader Impact and Future Prospects
The research conducted at Maastricht University is expected to have a significant impact on the recycling industry, potentially setting new standards for plastic waste management. The university’s work is not limited to food packaging but extends to other industries where plastic use is prevalent. For instance, polypropylene, commonly used in electronics and transportation for its flame-retardant properties, has limited recyclability. The university’s research aims to address these challenges, making polypropylene and similar materials more recyclable and, thus, more sustainable.
National and Global Implications
The outcomes of these projects are likely to influence both national and global policies on plastic waste management. By developing new technologies and methods for recycling, Maastricht University and its partners aim to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste significantly. This aligns with the broader goals of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, which seeks to reduce the use of single-use plastics and promote the development of sustainable alternatives. The Dutch government’s support for these initiatives underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing global environmental challenges.
Bronnen
- packagingeurope.com
- www.maastrichtuniversity.nl
- euraxess.ec.europa.eu
- www.iamexpat.nl
- www.utwente.nl
- www.uu.nl