Plastic waste outlive us on this planet as they take centuries to break down. The hazard of endocrine disruption by leached substances, fast growing and pollution of land, air and water as well as greenhouse gas emissions are only some of the adverse effects of plastic waste on public and environmental health. Still, 70% of plastic waste collected in Europe is landfilled or incinerated.
The overall objective of SURPASS project is to lead by example the transition towards more Safe, Sustainable and Recyclable by Design (SSRbD) polymeric materials. The SURPASS consortium of 13 partners consisting of research and technology organizations and industries will:
- Develop SSRbD alternatives with no potentially hazardous additives through industrially relevant case-studies (TRL3-5) targeting the three sectors representing 70% of the European plastic demand:
- Building: bio-sourced polyurethane resins with enhanced vitrimer properties to replace PVC for window frames (≥ 40% carbon footprint reduction)
- Transport: lightweight, therefore less energy-consuming epoxy-vitrimer (≥ 30% carbon footprint reduction), as alternative to metal for the train structure, anticipating emerging use of non-recyclable composites.
- Packaging: MultiNanoLayered films involving no compatibilizers to replace currently non-recyclable multi-layers films (≥ 60% carbon footprint reduction).
- Optimize reprocessing technologies adapted to the new SSRbD systems to support achievement of ambitious recyclability targets.
- Develop a scoring-based assessment that will guide material designers, formulators and recyclers to design SSRbD polymeric materials, operating over the plastic’s entire life cycle, including hazard, health, environmental and economic assessment.
- Merge all data and relevant methodologies in a digital infrastructure, offering an open-access user-friendly interface for innovators.
SURPASS will in particular address its results to SMEs, representing more than 99% of enterprises, and therefore has an outstanding potential to contribute to the transition towards green economy.
In this community all dissemination material developed within the project (publications, webinars, videos, presentations and research data) will be made available to the public.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101057901.