Project description DEENESFRITPL Introducing biobased polymers in circular economy loops Fancy a swim in… plastic? Scientists warn our oceans will contain more plastics than fish (by weight) by 2050 when the production of plastic packaging will exceed 250 million metric tonnes. Currently around 26 billion tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year in Europe alone. Worse still is that more than 70 % of this waste is not recycled. Most of the disposed plastics cannot be recycled and are not degradable. The EU-funded NATURE project is working on an innovative research training programme, which will be at the starting lines of the circular economy. For instance, it will boost knowledge about the synthesis of new biobased polymeric materials where the polymers are designed based on their performance and their recyclability. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Plastics are the material of choice in packaging applications because of their low cost, high performance and ready processability. Such is their success that it is expected that by 2050 the production of plastic packaging will exceed 250 million metric tons. Considering most plastics that are employed in the packaging industry are used for less than a week, the lack of environmental degradability has led to a tremendous growth of disposed plastics. This growth, together with the fact that the vast majority of synthetic plastics are designed for performance and durability and not for degradability and recyclability, has brought tons of plastic accumulation in the oceans and landfills - ~56 million tons per year. The problem has been highlighted by the acclaimed prediction that by 2050, the ocean is expected to contain more plastics than fish (by weight). Although it was envisioned that biodegradable polymers based on ester linkages such as poly(lactide) (PLA) or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) could be part of the solution because they are mainly derived from biorenewable sources (e.g. starch and cellulose) and can be enzymatically or hydrolytically degraded leading to an environmentally closed circular ecosystem, the low permeability in the case of PLLA and the poor mechanical properties in the case of PHB has limited their potential. NATURE-EID proposes an innovative research training program at the forefront of circular economy of biobased polyesters. In particular, the project will develop fundamental knowledge in the synthesis of new biobased polymeric materials where the polymers are not only design based on their performance but also on their recyclability. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemssocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economyengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.1. - Fostering new skills by means of excellent initial training of researchers Topic(s) MSCA-ITN-2020 - Innovative Training Networks Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-ITN-EID - European Industrial Doctorates Coordinator POLYKEY POLYMERS SL Net EU contribution € 495 222,12 Address Avenida tolosa 72 20018 San sebastian Spain See on map Region Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 598 384,32 Address Edgbaston B15 2TT Birmingham See on map Region West Midlands (England) West Midlands Birmingham Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA Participation ended Spain Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Barrio sarriena s n 48940 Leioa See on map Region Noreste País Vasco Bizkaia Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
