UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is announcing nearly one quarter of a million pounds in funding for projects to address plastic waste and improve the UK’s recycling capabilities during Recycle Week.
The funding is being awarded as part of the Feasibility Studies for Demonstrators competition, a constituent of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) challenge, run on behalf of the UK government.
The projects aim to help the UK tackle the challenge of plastic pollution in the environment through the development of a more sustainable plastic packaging value chain in the UK.
Seven projects have received a share of £235,000 funding as part of the competition.
The funding will also be used for the projects to create proposals to enter into a follow-on demonstrator projects competition.
To be awarded funding, the projects must showcase solutions that go beyond the current state-of-the-art and deliver a more circular economy for plastic packaging.
Recycle Week
Recycle Week is celebrated annually in September, organised by the Waste and Resources Action Programme under the Recycle Now brand.
This year, the theme will thank the nation for continuing to recycle despite the challenges that COVID-19 has presented, under the banner ‘Together – We Recycle.’
Registration is now open for the SSPP Future Plastic Packaging Solutions competition briefing event on 3 November 2020, hosted by the Knowledge Transfer Network and UK Circular Plastics Network.
Paul Davidson, challenge director of the SSPP challenge, said:
Plastic is a major part of our lives and as we all grow more environmentally aware, the calls to move away from plastic to preserve the planet have become louder.
These projects have received funding so they can take their first steps to becoming demonstrator projects in the future, focused on developing ways to ensure continued use of safe, clean and readily recyclable plastic, boosting productivity and preventing disruption to business and consumers.
It is very apt this funding is being announced today. Recycle Week is a call to all of us to step up our efforts to protect the planet.
Further information
Full list of competition winners:
- Notpla liner
Skipping Rocks Lab Limited - A novel separation system for waste plastic films
Impact Laboratories Limited - Hibarfilms
Haydale Composite Soultions Limited - Unpackaged: a circular supply chain solution to scale bulk in retail
Unpackaged Innovation Limited - Foamed biopolymer formulation for replacing expanded polystyrene and PVC in pots tubs and tray applications
Wells Plastics Limited - Plastics to plastic reformation
HE3 Limited - Establishing a trade waste collection for vegware compostable packaging in Manchester
Vegware Limited