GREENER: dealing with the plastic soup
Microplastics are ubiquitous and pose a growing environmental problem. Everyone has heard of the "plastic soup" in the oceans, where plastic waste breaks down into small particles that end up in our food chain because plankton and marine animals consume micro plastics.
Biobased and biodegradable polymers
Only a small part of the synthetic plastics is recovered or recycled after use. The majority is incinerated, ends up in landfill sites or accumulates in the oceans, contributing to micro plastic pollution. Based on the demand for sustainable alternatives, the GREENER project will develop biobased and biodegradable polymers with the same properties as the widespread water-soluble polyacrylic acid.
As a result, fewer micro plastics end up in the environment, and only non-toxic, natural substances are released during degradation. The aim is to valorize these materials in the widest possible range of applications, from superabsorbents in concrete, biomedical materials, cosmetics and paper to coatings.
Interreg V, theme environment
- Total budget:€ 1.547.000
- Interreg contribution: € 773.500,01 (50%)
- Project period: 1 September 2019 - 31 August 2022
- Project manager: Maastricht University
Project partners
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