Challenge
The SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS project aims to promote the green transition of the Plastics Industry towards the Circular Economy and intends to be the Mobilizing Agenda for Sustainable Plastics in Portugal, capable of driving the sector's transition to a truly circular economy.
It arises from an initiative of APIP, led by LOGOPLASTE INNOVATION LAB, and aims to mobilize the private sector, national authorities, universities, and citizens, contributing to the goals of the European Circular Economy. The initiative is based on three pillars:
i) Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG);
ii) Increased resource efficiency;
iii) Job creation.
Given the complexity of the Plastics Industry value chain, which involves a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., producers of plastic materials and raw materials, transformers, machinery and equipment manufacturers, brand-owners, retailers and distributors, waste management agents, among many others), it has become essential to promote the creation of an innovation ecosystem capable of involving all these economic agents, as well as consumers, in addressing the challenges posed by the Circular Economy.
Solution / Main Objective
A Agenda SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS pretende mobilizar o setor privado juntamente com as autoridades nacionais, as universidades e os cidadãos, contribuindo para os objetivos da Economia Circular Europeia de redução das emissões de gases com efeitos de estufa, maior eficiência de recursos e criação de emprego. A Agenda encontra se estruturada em 7 Work Packages que, em articulação, irão promover a Transição Verde da Indústria dos Plásticos para a Economia Circular. Para tal, as atividades previstas incidem sobre 4 eixos principais, nomeadamente:
i) Circularity through Material Design;
ii) Circularity through Product Design;
iii) Circularity through Recycling;
iv) Circularity through Alternative Raw Materials.
Objectives, Activities and Expected/Achieved Results
The Laboratory of Testing, Wear, and Materials (LED&MAT) at IPN is part of this consortium, and at the technical level, LED&MAT has a strong involvement in 2 out of the 14 Technical PPS (Products, Processes, Services):
i) Recycled and 100% recyclable packaging suitable for food contact;
ii) Biodegradable composites derived from fiber waste.
LED&MAT's contribution to these two Technical PPS is based on extensive experience and know-how regarding the comprehensive analysis and characterization of new polymeric-based formulations for subsequent comparison with what currently exists in the market. To achieve this, it will develop, in collaboration with PSS partners, fully recycled solutions for use in the field of food packaging, ensuring the safety of their application in this context.
On the other hand, the application of biodegradable resins in components and products constructed with composite materials is also an objective to be achieved, thus ensuring a strong sustainability component in any of the relevant PPS, at a time when polymers are targeted materials due to their environmental impact. Therefore, it is important to rethink their entire production and application in the context of a Green Economy.
The environmental life cycle assessment of the products developed during the PPS will also be the subject of study in the project's later years to assess their sustainability through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
Project Reference
Funding
Intervention Region
Total Investment
IPN Investment
Total Eligible
IPN Eligible
EC Funding – Total
EC Funding – IPN
Duration
Start Date
End Date
Approval Date
Consortium