PolyCE’s project partner University of Ghent attended the European Commission’s LIFE* platform meeting on plastics and the circular economy on September 21 – 22, 2017 in Athens.

Hosted by the National Technical University of Athens, the event brought together all LIFE projects related to plastics and a select few Horizon 2020** projects, among which was PolyCE.

Kim Ragaert, from the University of Ghent’s Centre for Polymer and Material Technologies, presented PolyCE’s aims and objectives in the context of a discussion on plastics collection, sorting, and recycling.

PolyCE’s objectives stood out as scalable (expanding over the whole plastics value chain) and practical (exemplified through large demonstrators) in terms of including post-consumer recycled plastics into the circular economy. Sustainable product design, harmonized policy action, and consumer engagement were highlighted as key.

In the months to come, PolyCE will further reveal best practices on recyclable plastic polymers fit for implementation into new product development.

*LIFE, the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action, works towards preserving our natural capital, fostering green growth and the circular economy in Europe, and supporting breakthrough actions in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

**Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation program ever, with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020), in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries, and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.