A £13million funding call has opened to support developments in circularity, reclamation and reuse.
Announced by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [ESPRC] and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, finance will be made available for up to nine projects.
Among other things, research that aims to improve energy efficiency scalable and sustainable solutions will be prioritised. The full-stage call will be by invitation only, and interested organisations can find more information about applications — which close on 23rd July — here.
The news comes at the same time as WMG has confirmed a £13.6million research hub will be created at the University of Warwick. Work will focus ‘growing’ more sustainable supply chains, improving how durable plastics are created, reused and recycled, reducing waste overall and supporting greener manufacturing. More than 60 industry partners are involved, including Polestar, JLR, Siemens, BEKO, Bellway and Biffs.
‘We’re incredibly proud to lead this vital initiative. Until now, most sustainability efforts in plastics have focused on single-use items and packaging. Yet engineering plastics – essential to modern life – present equally complex sustainability challenges that have, until now, largely been overlooked,’ said project lead, Ton Peijs, Professor of Polymer Processes, WMG, University of Warwick.
‘This Hub unites researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to fundamentally rethink how engineering plastic parts are designed, reused, repaired and recycled,’ they continued. ‘We’re focused on real-world impact: using greener materials, smarter manufacturing and recycling systems, and more sustainable supply chains.’
In total, four hubs have now been confirmed across the UK by the EPSRC, worth £44million. Each will focus on a specific area manufacturing, such as net zero supply chains, production resilience, waste transformation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
These hubs will play a vital role in reshaping manufacturing to help the UK achieve green growth,’ added Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of EPSRC. ‘By combining deep research expertise with real-world partnerships, they will develop the technologies, tools and systems we need for clean, competitive and resilient industries.’
Image: Sigmund / Unsplash
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