Leading innovations in plastic sustainability showcased at this year’s GRIPS

Highlights from this year’s events include:

• Co-Director of the University of Sheffield’s Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, Prof. Rachel Rothman, talking on waste hierarchy and projects such as ‘Many Happy Returns’ that are helping retailers and customers rethink their package use and incentivise reuse.
• CEO and Co-founder of Dsposal, Sophie Walker, highlighting the importance of quality data in driving circularity and unlocking opportunities.
• Tesco’s Head of Packaging and Food Waste Strategies, James Bull, talking on the need for bespoke packaging solutions for every product to help maximise reuse and recycling.

GRIPS also saw the launch of Innovate UK’s new report 'Sustainable Carbon Ambition for the UK Chemicals Industry', which highlights the opportunity for the sector to diversify away from virgin fossil carbon and toward other sustainable feedstocks.

Dr Peter Clark, Head of Chemistry and Industrial Biotechnology at Innovate UK Business Connect, said: “This report shines a light on the need for industry and government to collaborate on creating a resilient chemicals sector. A strong UK chemicals industry will be able to manufacture the sustainable ingredients that are in demand in downstream sectors, creating high value jobs and growing the economy.”

Reflecting on this year’s event, Founder of the UK Circular Plastics Network and Knowledge Transfer Manager for Polymers at Innovate UK Business Connect, Prof. Sally Beken, said: “Plastics have undeniably shaped the modern world. From packaging which preserves our foods to medical supplies that save lives, plastics have been a cornerstone of innovation and convenience. But we know this story has another side. Our dependence on plastic, particularly single-use plastics, has contributed to some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. GRIPS allows us to chart a sustainable future for plastics and explore how our industries, governments, and societies can address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. GRIPS 2024 has been no exception, and we’re pleased to have facilitated another year full of so much valuable insight from so many sectors."

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/the-environment/26092024/leading-innovations-in-plastic-sustainability-showcased-at-this-years-grips/