Global Research and Innovation in Plastics Sustainability is a conference, exhibition and showcase that will be held on 16th – 18th March 2021 online. It will bring together companies and individuals to highlight the best of the UK and selected international activities which will lead to plastics* being less likely to reach landfill, end up incinerated, or become fugitive in the environment.

Research and innovation from both the academic and industrial community will be showcased. The event will provide a platform to help develop commercial success of these developments and build links within the polymer/plastics supply chain to strengthen the offer to UK and wider international actors in application sectors such as plastic packaging/FMCG, construction, agriculture, textiles, healthcare, etc. *including tyres, synthetic textiles and bio-based or compostable polymers.

Organised and run by KTN, supported by UKRI, hosted by UK Circular Plastics Network.

“This will be the UK’s biggest sustainability in plastics research and innovation event of 2021 and sets the scene to grow the conference internationally over the coming years.

Its aim is to bring together companies and individuals to highlight the best of the UK and selected international activities which will lead to plastics and persistent polymers being less likely to reach landfills, end up incinerated, or become fugitive in the environment.”

Dr. Sally Beken, UKCPN Programme Lead

Call for abstracts

We are specifically looking for abstracts that focus on innovations in plastics leading to enhanced sustainability of plastics and polymers leading to or having less impact on the environment.

Themes:

  • Research into behaviour change and business modelling of plastics products or processes leading to less plastic entering the environment
  • Life cycle analysis and Techno Economic analysis of the polymer and alternative materials value chains
  • New, recyclable polymer materials
  • Innovation in synthetic textiles to improve sustainability and lead to less microplastic shedding
  • Improvements in tyre properties or collection methods to lead to less persistent polymer
  • Packaging of the future
  • Microplastics effects on the environment
  • Sustainable composites
  • Biopolymers that replace fossil-based plastic products
  • Improving ‘compatibilisation’ for recycling
  • Alternatives to plastics with greater sustainability
  • Design of plastics for recyclability
  • Design and business models for reuse and or refill of plastics
  • Sorting, separation, robotics and AI leading to improved capture and sorting of end of life plastics
  • Innovations in mechanical and chemical recycling

Successful academic abstracts will be invited to produce a paper which will be published in the conference proceedings and authors will be invited to present at the conference for between 10-20 mins on their research (pre-recordings are possible). There will be a prize for the best paper. Successful business led innovation abstracts will be invited to speak (no paper is required).

Submit your Abstract here

Download Call for Abstract Information here.

What's on at GRIPS 2021?

  • Exhibition and conference
  • Online attendee networking platform
  • Academic speaker programme of cutting-edge research in plastics, including behaviour change and business modelling
  • Business led programme of innovations in plastic sustainability
  • Pitching event – highlighting a UK & international funded projects
  • A seminar session showcasing Research Councils support for plastics and polymers research
  • Student poster session
  • Investment panel where potential investable ideas will be presented

Register