Innovation

Plastic recycling conveyor belt
Technology
AI waste management study to track quality plastic recyclates

The study will make use of GreyParrot’s AI waste management systems to track and categorise items going through polypropylene (PP) recycling streams. The partners hope the data provided will shine a light on the volume of potentially food-grade recycling materials in the system.

Recyclable packaging
Design
DS Smith partners with Eat Happy to develop fully recyclable packaging for sushi

The recyclable packaging is anticipated to prevent 1,250 tonnes of plastic waste each year

Sustainable aviation fuel
Technology
Sustainable aviation fuel: Can waste help the industry reach ‘jet zero’?

Using waste to create sustainable aviation fuel has been touted as one of the crucial strategies towards reducing emissions within the aviation industry

Paper and cardboard packaging
DS Smith trials use of seaweed, cocoa shells and daisies for packaging
By
Savannah Coombe
| 25 August 2022 |
If successful, the materials will be used in the company’s paper and packaging making process
Plastic packaging
Specially-evolved enzyme degrades problematic packaging
By
Resource
| 24 August 2022 |
The PET portion of mixed packaging is degraded, leaving behind an easier product to mechanically recycle
waste plastic ocean bottle
New AI model detects and categorises marine plastic
By
Amelia Kelly
| 17 August 2022 |
The technology can differentiate floating plastics with 68 per cent accuracy
Max Recycle
Max Recycle partners with Advetec to unveil SRF plans
By
Amelia Kelly
| 11 August 2022 |
It will be England's first waste handler to do so, reducing disposal costs and CO2 emissions
representatives at landfill in South Africa
WasteAid receives funding to support circular economy in South Africa
By
Alice Lang
| 5 August 2022 |
With money from WRAP and UKRI, the charity will support recycling initiatives in Mpumalanga
e-waste recycling
New e-waste recycling method receives national award and funding
By
Alice Lang
| 5 August 2022 |
Researchers at the University of Leicester have received national recognition for their DES technology
Pile of flexible plastics
£10m project promises to capture plastic lost to residual streams
By
Savannah Coombe
| 28 July 2022 |
The three-year project will focus on recovering plastic packaging currently lost to landfill and incineration
tracing textile fibres
Tracer technologies central to textile sustainability, new guide claims
By
Alice Lang
| 27 July 2022 |
The document aims to demonstrate the advantages of the technology to textile manufacturers 
Wood biomass
Academics develop PET-like plastics from biomass waste
By
Alice Lang
| 4 July 2022 |
The process is reportedly the first to no longer rely on edible crops
UK Houses of Parliament
CCC 2022 progress report: ‘Current programmes will not deliver Net Zero’
By
Alice Lang
| 29 June 2022 |
The document, containing 300 recommendations, questions a ‘heavy reliance’ on EfW
University of Portsmouth logo
University of Portsmouth to host international plastics conference
By
Alice Lang
| 28 June 2022 |
‘Plastics Future 2022’ will take place November 2022 and host speakers from around the world 
Digital product passports in Circularise’s system
Partnership brings traceability software to circular polymers and chemicals value chain
By
Amelia Kelly
| 16 June 2022 |
Finnish oil-refiner Neste has teamed up with blockchain startup Circularise
Gerdau Graphene bags
Nanotechnology firm boosts plastic strength with graphene additives
By
Emma Love
| 15 June 2022 |
Gerdau Graphene partnered with a Brazilian advanced materials unit to develop the innovation
Greyparrot analysis
AI startup Greyparrot completes funding round with $11 million
By
Emma Love
| 24 May 2022 |
The company uses computer vision technology to monitor, analyse, and sort waste
Coffee cups in bin
Welsh trial finds everyday applications for hard-to-recycle items
By
Emma Love
| 14 March 2022 |
Coffee cups and crisp packets have become decking in the WRAP-funded initiative
Plastic packaging
UKRI announces £30 million funding for plastics projects
By
Emma Love
| 8 March 2022 |
The body has released the winners of its two most recent funding competitions 
Collection of crumpled plastic bottles
Global plastic waste doubled in two decades, OECD report finds
By
Alice Lang
| 22 February 2022 |
The body urges international cooperation in an attempt to curb plastics consumption
collection of empty plastic bottles
University of Birmingham licences rights to ‘supercritical water’ recycling technology
By
Alice Lang
| 15 February 2022 |
The new process aims to overcome challenges facing existing mixed plastic recycling processes 
Ecosurety Exploration Fund Logo
Ecosurety Exploration Fund announces 2022 winners
By
Alice Lang
| 9 February 2022 |
Recipients were recognised for their ‘originality, viability and potential long-term wider impact’
Xampla lab technician holding seeds in Petri dish
Xampla launch trial for plastic-free seed coating
By
Alice Lang
| 1 February 2022 |
The project aims to replace conventional coatings with a biodegradable alternative