The UPCYCLE project was featured on 27 January 2026 in the Touch Base with R&I Projects series organised by European Bioplastics (EUBP). The online session gathered members of the bioplastics community, industry representatives, and research organisations for a focused exchange on UPCYCLE’s objectives, technologies, and early achievements.
Project coordinator Cristiano Varrone (Aalborg University) delivered an accessible overview of UPCYCLE’s vision and scientific foundations, highlighting the strong interest in innovative pathways for transforming nonrecyclable plastic waste into sustainable, nonpersistent packaging materials. He introduced the core elements of UPCYCLE’s Sustainable Plastic Biorefinery and shared an overview of the project’s early progress.
Key highlights included:
- How UPCYCLE builds on the achievements of the H2020 UPLIFT project
- The project’s approach to converting different types of plastic waste into more sustainable packaging materials
- The first steps taken to scale up the biorefinery concept
- The development of new packaging formulations for shortlifetime food and personal care applications
These insights positioned UPCYCLE within the broader landscape of emerging circular technologies and illustrated the project’s ambition to deliver practical, scalable solutions for nonrecyclable plastic waste.
The session also opened a space to explore collaboration opportunities with the EUBP community, including potential synergies with other EUfunded initiatives and possibilities for industrial validation.
An engaging Q&A followed, with participants raising questions on feasibility, scalability, biodegradability, and potential application areas. The discussion underscored the sector’s interest in new circular value chains capable of addressing waste streams that remain difficult to recycle through conventional methods.
Events like Touch Base with R&I Projects play an important role in strengthening visibility for initiatives such as UPCYCLE, helping connect the project with key actors across the bioplastics value chain. The session offered a valuable opportunity to present the project’s ambitions, exchange perspectives with the community, and foster collaborations that will support UPCYCLE as it advances towards largescale demonstration.
If you are interested in learning more about the session, you can access the recording and the presentation here: