Plastic Aware
Plastic Aware is a research project within Plestic Ready that aims to accelerate the transition to a circular plastics value chain in the Northern Netherlands. Educational institutions, businesses and civil-society organisations are jointly investigating how plastic use can be reduced and how plastics and other residual materials can be transformed into new products. The solutions developed will be tested at WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo and in Emmen town centre. Through an interactive Experience Route, visitors will discover in an accessible way what circularity means and how they can contribute.
Background
Plastic is everywhere, and a significant proportion of it ends up as waste in our environment. At the same time, organisations face various barriers when attempting to make their use of plastics more sustainable. For example, they may lack insight into material flows, suitable processing technologies, viable business models or opportunities for collaboration across the value chain. Legislation and regulations, as well as the acceptance of new materials and products, also play a role. As a result, many circular innovations never progress beyond the development stage.
Plastic Aware brings together knowledge from research, education and professional practice to overcome these obstacles. The project focuses not only on new materials and products, but also on the communication and collaboration required to make circular solutions genuinely successful.
Project Approach
The pilot will take place at WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo and in Emmen town centre. The project consists of three interconnected components. Researchers will map where and how plastics are used and identify the material flows with the greatest environmental impact. They will then investigate which interventions are suitable for reducing, reusing and high-quality processing of these materials. They will also examine the collaboration required across the value chain and explore potential circular business models. New materials and products will be developed using plastic waste streams and other residual materials available locally.
Experience Route
The circular innovations will be incorporated into an Experience Route through WILDLANDS and Emmen town centre. Through storytelling, physical objects, interactive games and workshops, the route will engage visitors with plastic use and circularity. The Transformational Media Research Group will investigate how communication and media can contribute to awareness, engagement and acceptance. Together with students and visitors, the team will design, test and improve storylines, communication tools and participatory interventions.
Project Partners
Plastic Aware is part of Plestic Ready. The following partners collaborate within this programme:
- Greenwise Campus (lead partner)
- Hanze University of Applied Sciences
- University of Groningen
- SUSPACC
- Circular Groningen Drenthe
- Circular Friesland Association
- Province of Drenthe
- Province of Fryslân
- Province of Groningen
- Municipality of Emmen
Municipality of Heerenveen
Within NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, the Circular Plastics Research Group (project lead overall), the Transformational Media Research Group, and the Green Economics and Process Optimization Research Group work together on the project.
This project is co-funded by the provinces of Drenthe, Fryslân and Groningen and the municipalities of Emmen and Heerenveen, with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
