The EPSRC Manufacturing Research Hub in Sustainable Engineering Plastics (SEP) is a £13.6 million, 7-year programme led by the University of Warwick in collaboration with the University of Manchester and University College London, focusing on polymer processing, chemistry, engineering, manufacturing, recycling, design, data science, and sustainability.
The Hub focuses on 5 key Research Challenges (RCs)
- Developing authentically sustainable circular materials
- Advancing digital technologies to improve recovery and recycling quality.
- Optimising circular design for reuse and recycling.
- Pioneering innovative mechanical recycling and chemical deconstruction methods.
- Promoting systems innovation and quantifying impact through: Material flow analysis, Life cycle assessment, and Techno-economic analysis
The 5 key RCs will be addressed through 8 Core Projects, 16 Feasibility Studies, 7 Pilot Projects and 10 Scale-up & Integration demonstration projects. Feasibility Studies will focus on addressing high-risk research challenges related to RC1-5 and will serve as a mechanism to engage with new academic partners. Promising Feasibility Studies may evolve into 1-year Pilot Projects requiring stronger engagement from industrial partners. Scale-up & Integration projects will work alongside our industrial partners to demonstrate the developed technologies within sectors and to policymakers and the public.
Scale-up activities will concentrate on sustainable engineering plastic solutions across three sectors and their supply chains:
- transport (including automotive)
- electronics & electrical
- construction
The Hub has been launched with 4 two-year collaborative core projects that spread across and integrate the RCs:
- Intersectoral Transitions – Recycling ABS
- Design for Reuse & Durability
- Data & Decision Making in Engineering Plastic Sustainability
- Technologies for Easy Disassembly of Multi-Material Components