{"id":49632,"date":"2024-09-16T08:01:18","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T07:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=49632"},"modified":"2024-09-16T08:45:39","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T07:45:39","slug":"tus-pioneers-industrial-grade-sustainable-polymer-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/tus-pioneers-industrial-grade-sustainable-polymer-solutions\/49632\/","title":{"rendered":"TUS pioneers industrial-grade, sustainable polymer solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Technological University of Shannon is undertaking initiatives to develop low-carbon, industrial-grade plastic packaging solutions that operate within circular lifecycles to address the increasing issue of plastic waste.<\/h2>\n

In response to the global challenge posed by mounting plastic waste, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)<\/a> is leading cutting-edge research to develop food-safe and industrial-grade sustainable polymer alternatives. Led by Vice President of Research, Development and Innovation Dr Liam Brown, TUS\u2019s seven research institutes are working collaboratively to leverage scientific expertise, strategic partnerships and a commitment to environmental responsibility to drive change.<\/p>\n

With the newly amended European Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive mandating that a minimum of 55% of all plastic packaging be sustainable by 2030, TUS has intensified its efforts to provide companies with alternatives under the leadership of Dr Margaret Brennan-Fournet, a renowned materials scientist based at TUS\u2019s LIFE Health and Wellbeing Biosciences Research Institute in Athlone.<\/p>\n

\"sustainable
Fig. 1: Industrial Solutions for Transitioning to Sustainable Circular Polymer Products<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr Brennan-Fournet and her team are spearheading initiatives to innovate low-carbon industrial-grade plastic packaging solutions through the cross-institute Centre for Polymer Sustainability. These innovations operate within circular \u2018make, unmake and remake\u2019 lifecycles, ensuring sustainability and regenerative processes akin to natural ecosystems. By pursuing a high-risk, high-gain visionary strategy to cultivate the \u2018make-unmake-remake\u2019 strategy, the process has the potential for full commercialisation applications ready for industry-grade production.<\/p>\n

Make: Indefinitely recyclable, sustainable plastic products manufacturing<\/h3>\n

Key among TUS\u2019s initiatives is the EcoPlastiC project<\/a>, funded under the highly competitive European Innovation Council. Working closely with consumers, industry, international partners and policymakers, TUS\u2019s EcoPlastiC project has developed technologies to facilitate the full decoupling of polluting plastics consumption from the current extraction of fossil fuels and instead enable entry into permanent regenerative loops. Applying advanced waste stream fermentation and processing, biodegradable circular plastics and plastic solutions<\/a> with high performance for the sustainable food packaging sector are being developed as direct alternatives to current polluting petroleum-based plastics.<\/p>\n

Examples include:<\/p>\n