Plastics Research and Development Projects

The BPF supports a number of valuable research and development activities in key areas where the plastics industry's knowledge base needs extending.

Over the last year the BPF has continued to work hard to develop its project portfolio to benefit our membership base, by helping it create a competitive advantage, whilst becoming more sustainable. As an Association, we will continue to develop and project-manage several projects; with subject matter including plastics packaging recycling and bio-based polymers

More detail on each of these projects can be found below; with the common theme through-out each of these projects is for the plastics industry to increase its sustainable development and therefor matching UK and EU Government targets for reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

With the on-set of the Horizon 2020 scheme and the demise of the FP7 funding, the BPF will be working hard over the coming months to identify suitable funding calls and look to our extensive network for opportunities. The BPF is committed to helping our members develop their manufacturing processes, master new techniques and reduce energy consumption. To this end, the Research projects we are typically involved in are “Research for SME Associations” whereby our membership base has access to the results prior to anyone else.

				The Polysolve project will focus on the development of a green-solvent based solution to recycling end-of-life Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Polycarbonate (PC). The project commenced in November 2011 and will have a term of three years. Details and further information on the processes developed will be available to our members via the individual group newsletter, BPF Members' Newsletter and on the project website; www.polysolve.eu

				The SMART project will develop innovative recycled rubber products in high value added sectors, such as sport, transport and industrial products. The novel aspect of this project will be recycling rubber into new products without the addition of any linking agents or additional virgin rubber The project commenced in 2012 and will have a term of three years. Details and further information on the processes developed will be published on the project website; www.smart-recycle.eu

				The SuperCleanQ process will develop a quality control process for plastics recyclers, specifically targeted at food contact applications. The tools developed will look specifically at recycling coloured and layered PET back into food contact applications. The project commenced in November 2011 and will run for three years. Details and further information on the development can be found on the project website - www.supercleanq.eu

				The Next1Koat research is being undertaken to produce the first 1 K, High Solids and Water Based finishing system (coating) for both outdoor and indoor furniture. The project started in 2013 and will last for 3 years. This is a Research for benefit of SME-Associations project. Details and further information can be found on the project website - www.next1koat.eu

				The TDM-Seals project will develop cost-effective low friction seals by developing texturing during moulding technology. This project commenced in 2013, with a term of three years. Details will be posted on the project website - http://www.tdm-seals.eu/

				The Euro-PHA project is looking to develop a 100% natural and biodegradable bio-plastics formulation, which can in turn be used for food packaging applications & is which is in turn based on PHA. This is a three year project, commencing during 2013. Details will be posted on the project website - http://www.europha.eu/

				The HiPerDry project is an innovative approach to polymer drying technology. This 3 year project commenced during the K-Show in 2013 and will run for 3 years. This is a Research for the Benefit of SME-Associations project, which will culminate in the testing and demonstration of a prototype drying system for hygroscopic polymer granules. Updates and further technical information can be found on the project website - http://www.hiperdry.eu/

				The SlipSafe project began in February 2014 and is a Research for the Benefit of SME-Associations project. The project itself will seek to develop safe and resilient flooring, with controlled slip, under varying environments. It is a 3 year project and includes some of Europe's leading companies, such as Fraunhofer ICT, Smithers Rapra & Smithers Pira and AIMPLAS. The project website can be found here - www.slipsafe.org