Plastic Waste CRC

The Plastic Waste CRC will drive game-changing industry research and collaboration across the entire plastics value chain transforming the way plastics are designed, manufactured, used, recovered, recycled and how plastic pollution is remediated, by developing new materials, products, technologies, processes and systems.

It will deliver new jobs, skills and regional solutions by growing sustainable businesses and new markets, whilst creating a valuable circular economy for plastics resulting in a cleaner and safer environment.

Our research will unite, incentivise and galvanise industry and stakeholder action to deliver national waste targets and build the capabilities to make Australia a global leader in plastics manufacturing, recycling and reprocessing.

Why a Plastic Waste CRC?

A national and strategic approach to finding and developing solutions to challenges associated with our use of plastics is essential.

Accelerated by market and policy pressure to reduce waste and emissions, Australian businesses are well positioned to become competitive global players through innovation and collaborative R&D.

The Plastic Waste CRC will provide a platform to unite and galvanise key stakeholders to jointly develop leading solutions that promote accountability for our own plastic waste.

The CRC’s ability to deliver outstanding research, education and training opportunities, and build capabilities throughout the value chain, will be unrivalled. No current collaborative forum offers a platform and opportunity to address the plastic waste challenge at a sovereign level, working in harmony across the plastics value chain to enable a national outcome that can position Australia as a global leader.

Our Outputs

Key outputs will include:

new plastics that can be manufactured using Australian sourced renewable materials and valorisation principles
demonstration of economically viable innovative systems, products, materials and technologies for reuse, remanufacture and recycling
plastic material flow and recycling information apps, evidence-based decision support tools, and education and behaviour change tools
innovative and valuable circular business models
new systems thinking to inform avoidance of plastic usage and therefore waste
new approaches and technologies to detect, remove and remediate plastic pollutants
guidance to inform the setting of industry standards

The CRC’s critical legacy will be PhD students and researchers who are well trained, possessing industry-led experience and who can become leaders in the new circular economy for plastics.

Proposed Research Programs

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Next steps

Our bid will be assessed over the next few months, with the expectation of knowing by the end November 2021 whether we are short-listed for the CRC Program’s Stage 2 process.

In the meantime, we will continue to work with our partners in preparation for the next Stage, anticipating several new partners to join the bid in the next few months.

Our Partners

The Australian plastics value chain is complex, comprising a diverse array of upstream and downstream stakeholders of varying scale, sophistication and business interest. Over 100 Partners have joined our bid spanning raw material suppliers; manufacturers and converters; retailers and brand owners; local government authorities; waste management and recycling companies; State government agencies; Industry bodies; non-government organisations; and universities.