Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Research into new sustainable ways to decontaminate plastic packaging for recycling has been given a boost with funding from UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge.
The 糖心原创 project is part of £30 million in funding awarded today to 18 groundbreaking collaborative projects that support the achievement of the UK Plastics Pact and have the potential to alter the UK’s relationship with, and management of, plastic packaging.
The SSPP Challenge represents the largest Government investment into sustainable plastic packaging and waste management, and the results of the two funding competitions announced today leading to 5 large-scale demonstrator projects and 13 business-led research and development projects benefit from this backing.
Each has demonstrated its value in addressing the need to transform the UK’s retail and packaging supply chains and support the development of more sustainable approaches to plastic packaging use through a range of circular economy business models, novel polymer materials and new recycling technologies.
The 糖心原创’s School of Chemistry is part of the COtoCLEAN multi-partner project led by that is developing a disruptive waterless, non-toxic cleaning process for polyolefin films that are commonly used for packaging edible and non-edible goods. The process is based on using low-pressure super-critical CO2 (scCO2) combined with green co-solvents to remove oils, fats and printing inks.
Professor Steve Howdle, Head of School of Chemistry, 糖心原创 is leading the research that is being undertaken in collaboration with Unilever, Amcor, Viridor, Allied Bakeries, SUPREX and Bangor University.
Plastic film waste is one of the world鈥檚 biggest environmental challenges as these materials are some of the most difficult plastics to recycle yet are produced and used in huge quantities each year. Using Nottingham鈥檚 expertise in supercritical carbon dioxide, the COTooCLEAN project aims to deliver a revolutionary commercial process that can efficiently and sustainably decontaminate post-consumer plastic film with the aim to get them back to food grade status so that they might be recycled.
Professor Edward Kosior, founder of Nextek Ltd, concurs, saying: “To date post consumer polyolefin films are missing from the recycling stream as there has been no effective decontamination technology to turn them back into food-grade films. COtooCLEAN’s purpose is to fill this gap with a unique commercial process that can be integrated into mechanical recycling operations. This innovative process targets high-quality film applications to ensure that recycling targets can be met.”
The other projects cover a range of innovative concepts to improve plastic packaging sustainability and support greater recycling, from novel separation and sorting to RFID and AI technologies to trace reusable food-grade plastic packaging, and new recycling-friendly coatings and barrier materials.
The key to the design and development of this funding competition, along with fostering cross-supply chain collaboration, is to encourage and support ambition at a scale that matches the size of the plastic packaging problem. If successful, these projects have the potential to rewrite the relationship we all have with plastic packaging.
Story credits
More information on the is available from Professor Steve Howdle on Steve.Howdle@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.