Recycling bio-based plastics increasing sorting and recycled content (upcycling)

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking

Programme Description

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) that funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe.

CBE JU is operating under the rules of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, for the 2021-2031 period. The partnership is building on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), while addressing the current challenges facing the industry.

 

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-IA-04

Call

Recycling bio-based plastics increasing sorting and recycled content (upcycling)

Summary

The scope of this topic focusses on the recycling of bio-based plastics which are not already recycled with the conventional (fossil-based) plastics (bio-based PET, for example, is recycled with fossil-based PET). This means that bio-based plastics made of ‘drop-ins’ polymers are excluded from the scope.

Detailed Call Description

Proposals under this topic should:

  • Develop sorting and separation systems for isolating dedicated bio-based plastics from the mixed bio-based and fossil-based plastics streams (when applicable, as an enabler for conversion of the bio-based polymer fraction)
  • Develop, upscale and deploy innovative recycling technologies or adapt, optimise and deploy existing ones for bio-based plastics
  • Demonstrate integration of the recycling process(es) at relevant scale inside a real waste management plant
  • Target as much as possible the same grade for the recycled as the virgin product (e.g. keeping food grade), or upgrade the resulting stream into higher-value products (e.g. using them as fermentation feedstock for conversion into chemicals, materials)
  • Assess the market uptake potential of recycled bio-based plastic products.
  • Assess the integration of the developed sorting and recycling technologies with current waste management practices. Involvement of waste management companies/authorities should be envisaged.
  • Integrate a task to perform assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials. Under this context, projects are expected to contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework.

Call Total Budget

€15 000 000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

70%

Expected EU Contribution: €7 500 000

Thematic Categories

  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Industry
  • Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness

Eligibility for Participation

  • Central Government
  • International Organisations
  • Large Enterprises
  • Legal Entities
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Parliamentary Bodies
  • Private Bodies
  • Producer Associations
  • Semi-governmental organisations
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

For additional specific conditions, which are described in section 2.2.3 in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2023.

Call Opening Date

26/04/2023

Call Closing Date

20/09/2023

EU Contact Point