Moreover, in January 2018, the European Commission took a big decision to combat plastic pollution when it adopted the European strategy for plastics in a circular economy. The Commission aims at developing a plastic circular economy throughout the value chain and the entire life cycle. To reach the strategic goals, there will be additional European funding opportunities for plastics and recycling players. Luxinnovation’s European funding team is here to help you understand the calls, prepare your application and find partners. In addition to helping you for your Horizon 2020 application, Luxinnovation’s EcoInnovation and Materials & Manufacturing Cluster are involved in helping Luxembourg plastics players move towards a more sustainable plastics economy.
Horizon 2020 funding opportunities
The Plastics Strategy is having a big impact on Horizon 2020 funding. By the end of 2020, an additional €100 million euros will be devoted to financing priority actions, including the development of smarter and more recyclable plastics materials, more efficient recycling processes and the removal of hazardous substances and contaminants from recycled plastics.
Examples of forthcoming calls
- Sustainable solutions for bio-based plastics on land and sea (deadline: 23 January 2019)
- Microorganism communities for plastics bio-degradation (deadline: 05 March 2019)
- Raw materials innovation for the circular economy: sustainable processing, reuse, recycling and recovery schemes (first deadline: 19 February 2019)
- Improving the recovery and recycling of materials from composite and multi-layer products (Indicative topic for 2020)
More Horizon 2020 calls will soon be published. To stay up to date, register to our Horizon 2020 newsletter. Luxinnovation’s EU Funding team is there to help and support, should you wish to learn more about the plastic related calls. Please contact EU Funding Advisor Sanna Alaranta for more information.
Cluster actions
Luxinnovation’s EcoInnovation and Materials & Manufacturing Cluster are engaged in the plastics economy transformation in Luxembourg. The Clusters have launched a cross-sector initiative on plastics recycling throughout the value chain. The Clusters have organised roundtables and workshops involving key Luxembourg plastics players. During these informal meetings, participants were able to share challenges they have encountered regarding a specific topic and look for solutions together. In addition to these roundtables, the Luxembourg EcoInnovation Cluster and the Luxembourg Materials & Manufacturing Cluster will organise an event with plastics players of the Greater Region by the end of the year. Please contact Flagship Projects Manager Anja Höthker for more information on the Cluster actions.
Background of the Plastics Strategy
Concerned about the importance of plastics as a material in our economy and by its negative impact on the environment, the European Commission adopted the European strategy for plastics in a circular economy. It aims at ensuring that, by 2030, all plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable in a cost effective manner. The Strategy is part of the broader 2015 EU action plan for the circular economy and the 2008 Waste Framework Directive. It will also contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the EU’s industrial policy objectives.
Legislation changes resulting from the Strategy
In order to improve the economics and quality of plastics recycling, new quality standards for plastic waste and recycled plastics have been introduced. The Commission has also planned to revise the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and to issue new guidelines on separate collection and sorting of waste.
In its efforts to curb plastic waste and littering, the Commission proposed in January 2018 a revised directive on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships. In May 2018, the Commission proposed a new directive to tackle marine litter, which targets the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe’s beaches and seas, as well as in lost and abandoned fishing gear. These proposed directives build on existing rules such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and complement other actions taken against marine pollution, such as under the Port Reception Facilities Directive.
The Commission is also seeking to impose restrictions on microplastics and oxo-degradable plastics via the REACH regulation. On 10 July 2018, the European Parliament’s environment committee included in its draft report a motion for a European parliament resolution to ban microplastics and oxo-degradable plastics. The European Parliament will debate on the strategy on 12 September and vote one day later.
Finally, for driving investment and innovation towards circular solutions, the Commission plans to develop a Strategic Research Innovation Agenda on plastics to provide orientation for research and innovation funding beyond 2020.