Dematerialisation and Circularity of Plastic

The project "eCircular" aims at reducing plastic waste by using innovative digital technologies. As an initiative of Europe's largest private-public innovation partnership Climate-KIC, the project contributes to the overall goal of reducing material production to zero emissions by 2050. The eCircular flagship acts as a bridge between academia, industry, public administration and citizens at a European level to pave the way for a dematerialised circular economy. At present, less than 40 per cent of plastics are recycled. In order to avoid plastics being "down-cycled", incinerated or landfilled, significant changes have to be made to the complex value chain. Digital technologies, such as block chain, need to improve eco-design and the traceability of materials to create a common knowledge and regulation regarding plastics.

The core partner of the project is the Wuppertal Institute. Dr. Justus von Geibler (Division of Sustainable Production and Consumption) forms together with the University of Bologna the core-leadership of the project. Furthermore he leads the work package "Innovation Accelerator", which supports innovations with regard to the efficient use of plastics, for example via a European-wide competition of different innovative projects. Dr. Holger Berg (Research Unit Circular Economy) manages the work package "Networking", which aims at the development of a network for all stakeholders.