UK universities lead sustainable plastics research
£6mln in funding will underpin five UK university-led projects to deliver sustainability of plastics.
This work aims to cut the environmental damage that plastics cause, as well as increasing their longevity in use and boosting their value.
Led by University College London, University of Birmingham, Imperial College London, University of Cardiff and University of Huddersfield, these multidisciplinary three-year projects will include the areas:
- Achieving sustainability of absorbent hygiene products
- A circular economy for medical testing plastics
- A new approach to recycling multilayer packaging
- Breaking down plastic waste quickly, cleanly and cheaply
- Transforming textile waste into recycled plastics
The funding is delivered by UK Research and Innovation's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC – providing £5mln in funding) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC – £1mln).
