Fifteen partners from eight European countries will work for 48 months to ensure technological improvements for better manufacturing and processing practices of plastic materials that currently are not adequately recycled.
UPLIFT has a dual strategy:
- manufacturing at pilot scale new renewable eco-polymers specifically designed to ensure easier end-of-life processing;
- developing industrial scalable enzymatic and microbial degradation processes to selectively depolymerize and upcycle plastic packaging waste materials that are currently considered unrecyclable.
Bio-based building blocks
Keeping plastic waste in the loop and integrating biobased building blocks, instead of virgin fossil-based monomers, UPLIFT will reduce plastic waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions associated with its production. The project will also look into social aspects, exploring the potential synergies between policymakers, industry, consumers, and recyclers, which are critical in order to change the plastic economy.
Led by Aalborg University, UPLIFT is formed by Forschungszentrum Julich, Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, LundsUniversitet, TECNARO, Bio-M, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, Leibniz-InstitutfuerNaturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie – Hans KnoellInstitut, Plastics Technology Centre AIMPLAS, University College Dublin, Bioplastech, Sustainable Innovations, RWTH Aachen and I/S Vestforbrænding.
The project has received €7,5 million funding from European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.
Image: Meryll/Shutterstock
