Our Vision
The Plastic Waste CRC will rethink the way we design, use, and reuse plastics to create a
viable and valuable circular economy for plastic, and a cleaner, safer environment.
The Challenge
Australia’s plastic waste challenge is complex and multi-faceted, and encompasses the:
- Ubiquity of plastics in modern life;
- Complexity and diversity of plastic materials;
- Global nature of plastics supply chains and waste flows;
- Imperatives of improving design, changing behaviour, and developing new business models; and
- Demands of establishing waste collection, processing and reuse systems at scale in urban, regional and remote settings.
Collectively, this requires cross-disciplinary research and collaboration with industry, governments and the community to accelerate the development of a viable circular economy for plastics
The Opportunity
A viable circular economy for plastic delivering new revenue streams across the plastic lifecycle, resulting in:
- Significant growth in plastic recycling
- Dramatic reductions in plastic sent to landfill
- Major reductions in plastic leakage and environmental pollution
- The elimination of single use plastics
- Novel and commercial material and packaging options
- New commercial remanufacturing and reuse markets and enterprises
- Commercial-scale feedstock recycling connecting the waste and manufacturing sectors
- Novel technologies for SME commercialisation and delivery
- Collaborative engagement with community, business and consumer advocacy groups
Key Stakeholder Interests
Stakeholders throughout the plastic lifecycle will benefit from participation in the Plastic Waste CRC
- Manufacturers – looking to develop, use and reuse new sustainable materials, and create new markets
- Brand owners – looking for novel sustainable packaging solutions
- Packaging companies – seeking alternative, effective and sustainable solutions
- Retailers – developing more sustainable supply chains for their customers
- Waste Management companies – exploring novel, efficient and effective plastic sorting technologies
- Recycling operators – seeking scalable, economic and efficient solutions, and commercial value from plastic
- Public and Private enterprises – wishing to advance their social license to operate, and address sector-specific challenges (e.g. hospital, agricultural, textile, mixed and e-waste etc.)
- SMEs – servicing the needs of industry and wanting to capitalise on the development of a circular economy for plastic
- Business and industry advocacy groups – investigating sustainable and commercially viable solutions on behalf of members
- Local Government Authorities – seeking plastic-specific solutions to key waste challenges
- State Government Agencies – seeking solutions and pathways to NWPAP1 targets
- Consumer and community groups – wanting to engage with world class research and help to promote local action
In-Principle Foundation Partners
