The consortium behind the upPE-T project has successfully completed its four-year endeavour, making significant strides in the field of circular economy related to food and beverage packaging. The upPE-T project involved 20 European partners addressing the challenges of PET and PE waste.
The project culminated in an innovative upcycling process that transforms this waste into biodegradable bioplastics. The central achievement of the project is the development of a new system that converts post-consumer PET and PE packaging waste into biodegradable and recyclable bioplastics (PHBV).
Innovative Upcycling Process
The upPE-T project also engaged various stakeholders, from waste collectors to packaging manufacturers, and made efforts to inform citizens about recycling, the principles of circular economy, and the benefits of biodegradable materials, enabling stakeholder involvement throughout the project’s lifecycle.
The Institute for Development and Innovation conducted comparative analyses on recycling in three countries – Italy, Finland, and Serbia, to understand consumer behaviour and needs in the context of recycling and consumer recycling habits.
Additionally, the Institute developed policy reviews and recommendations to improve the legal and regulatory framework at the European Union level. It also created a business model to assess the market profitability of the innovative solution for processing PET waste into biodegradable plastics, its market placement, and strategies for growth and development.
Project and Team Success
Representatives of the Institute for Development and Innovation attended the Final Review Meeting held in Murcia, Spain. During the event, independent reviewers conducted a project evaluation and confirmed that the project successfully achieved all planned outcomes.
In addition to meeting project objectives, over more than five years of project development and implementation, the Institute for Development and Innovation achieved internal goals related to enhancing team members’ capacities in managing and developing Horizon projects, as well as improving research skills and knowledge in areas beyond economics.
The upPE-T project is the first Horizon project in which the Institute for Development and Innovation participated, funded by the European Commission through the Horizon 2020 program.
