Research Programs
Research Program 1: Plastics design for circularity
This program will design, develop, manufacture, and commercialise new plastic materials and products that enable greater avoidance, reuse, recycling, decomposability, and degradability – minimising waste production and creating new and profitable circular businesses, jobs and capabilities.
Priority areas of research interest identified by industry and end-users include:
- Bio-Based/Bio-Sourced Plastics
- Easy-to-Recycle Plastics
- New Plastics to Infinite Recyclability
- Malleable and Recyclable Thermosets
- Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics
- Reusable Plastics
- Plastics Demonstration Plant for Circular Economy
Research Program 2: Transforming plastic waste
This program will develop and commercialise new technologies that maximise plastic recycling and value through better sorting and separation, recycling technologies and processes optimisation creating new advanced manufacturing opportunities, regionally-based recycling infrastructure and facilities, skills and jobs.
Priority areas of research interest identified by industry and end-users include:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Techniques for Smart Sorting of Mixed Plastic Wastes
- Advanced Mechanical and Chemical Plastic Recycling Processes
- Upcycling Plastic Waste for High Value-Added Applications
- Transforming Plastic Waste into Synthesis Gas, Hydrogen and Synthetic Liquid Fuel
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Models for Plastic Waste Management
- Standards and Specifications for Plastic Waste Derived Materials/Products
Research Program 3: Clean up and remediation of the environment
This program will develop approaches and new technologies to detect, remove and remediate plastic pollutants and to minimise further plastic waste entering the environment, thereby reducing the potential impacts of plastic pollution on human, animal and environmental health.
Priority areas of research interest identified by industry and end-users include:
- Detection of Macroplastics in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments
- Technologies for removal of Plastics from Aquatic Environments
- Determining Microplastic Contamination in Australia’s Agricultural Land and Vegetation
- Mitigation of Plastic Pollution in Environmental Matrices
- Developing Hierarchical Assessment Tools and Novel Protocols for Evaluating Impacts and Risk of Plastic Pollution
Research Program 4: Collaborating for a circular plastics economy
This cross-cutting program will develop innovative education tools and effective engagement and collaboration across key stakeholder groups to rethink and reimagine how we develop and implement a viable and valuable circular economy for plastics in urban, regional, and remote communities.
Priority areas of research interest identified by industry and end-users include:
- Evidence-Based Decision Support Tools for Industry and Government
- Spatial Mapping of plastic material flows
- Mapping Stakeholder Innovations for Circular Collaboration
- Engagement and Behaviour Change in Urban and Regional Communities
- Enabling a Circular Economy for Plastic via Product Stewardship and Reuse
Education + Training Program
The CRC’s education and training program complements all four research programs through increased engagement, development of new technology, preparation of skilled employees and enhanced research and development capacity within industry entities.
- Access to a Pilot Plant Platform for training and early-stage commercialisation
- National and International Meetings for facilitating sharing of best practices and technology diffusion
- Conferences and Showcases for new technologies and developments
- A PhD and Postdoctoral Fellows’ Program
- Postgraduate and graduate degree courses
- Micro credentials and Continuing Professional Development programs
- Vocational and Graduate Certificate programs
- School level programs to attract talent in the circular plastics economy
- Urban, Remote, Rural and Indigenous community education tools and workshops
