CIRC-PACK aims to improve the entire plastic packaging value chain from polymer production to end-of-life disposal, through the development of bio-based and recyclable plastics, and the improvement of recycling processes. By developing new bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics for the manufacture of a wide range of products, this project aims to reduce the environmental footprint of packaging. It will also improve the design of products to make sorting easier, and promote reuse and recycling; this way the recovery rates of plastic waste can increase and the quality of recycled plastics can improve – ultimately contributing to a more circular economy in the packaging sector.

The project has three demo cases, which together form an integrated approach to improving the plastics value chain:

• Demo Case A: Plastics from Renewable Resources - produce new bio-based polyesters with enhanced properties using renewable resources.
• Demo Case B: Eco-Friendly Packaging Designs - improve the recyclability of multilayer and multi-material packaging through smart eco-design.
• Demo Case C: Enhanced Sorting and Recycling - enhance the quality of recovered materials by improving existing sorting and recycling processes, and with new monitoring systems and technologies.