Circular Plastics Netherlands, a pioneering initiative supported by the Dutch National Growth Fund, has committed €35.5 million to advance plastics recycling innovation in 2025. This substantial investment is designed to support cutting-edge research and practical demonstrations of new recycling technologies that align with the Netherlands’ ambitious sustainability goals. Applications for the subsidies will open on February 18 and close on May 20, 2025. This initiative underscores the country's commitment to achieving a circular plastics economy, a critical part of its broader environmental strategy.

The €35.5 million fund is strategically divided between two key areas: research projects and showcases. Of the total amount, €4.5 million will be allocated to research projects, while €31 million will be dedicated to the development of innovative recycling showcases. Research projects can receive funding of up to €1.5 million, whereas showcases, which demonstrate practical implementations of new technologies, can secure up to €3 million in funding. In the case of demonstration projects that integrate showcases, the funding cap rises to €7.5 million. Research projects will have a maximum duration of four years, while showcases can span up to five years.

The research projects funded through this initiative will focus on several crucial areas within the plastics recycling process. These include tackling the challenge of microplastics, developing advanced in-line analysis techniques for sorting processes, automating the sorting of large plastic waste items, and optimizing mixed plastic waste flows to make recycling more efficient. On the other hand, showcases will target practical applications that have a direct impact on improving recycling capabilities. These will include the mechanical recycling of polyolefin packaging, recycling of polyolefin food-contact packaging, dissolution and depolymerization techniques for recycling household and industrial plastic waste, recycling of technical plastics, soft PVC, carpet recycling, and thermochemical recycling processes for converting mixed plastic waste into new monomers for plastic production.

Applications for the funding must be made in partnerships consisting of at least two organizations, with one being a company. Additionally, the organizations involved in the partnership must have a branch or subsidiary in the Netherlands. Applicants are allowed to participate in more than one project, as long as they submit separate applications for each initiative. The evaluation criteria for these projects will include how well they align with the objectives of Circular Plastics Netherlands, their degree of innovation, the potential for success in the Dutch market and broader society, and the overall quality of the project and its partnership.

This initiative comes as part of the Netherlands’ broader strategy to recycle 50% of all plastics by 2030, with a goal of achieving full plastics circularity by 2050. While the country recycled approximately 45% of its plastic packaging in 2022, it faces challenges in meeting its targets, particularly after the bankruptcy of seven plastics recyclers in 2024. The funding provided by Circular Plastics Netherlands is expected to accelerate the development of new recycling technologies and business models, which are essential for the country to meet its ambitious environmental goals and transition toward a more sustainable, circular economy.