Our Projects

The SPW CRC is proud to have initiated and commenced research projects across its four Research Programs.

Research Program 1 (RP1) Materials and Design

View all RP1 Projects.

Research Program 2 (RP2) Recovery and Recycling

View all RP2 Projects.

Research Program 3 (RP3) Circular Economy

View all RP3 Projects.

Research Program 4 (RP4) Microplastics

View all RP4 Projects.

Research Program 1

Materials and Design – Reducing products’ environmental impact

Research Program 1 (RP1) will develop plastic compositions that are more easily recycled or composted, and product designs which eliminate their unnecessary use, enable their reuse, avoid problematic plastics and material complexity and increase recycled content.

P1.1.1 Sustainable plastics use in health care – Stage 1

Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, B&C Plastics, University of Queensland and Griffith University

This project aims to identify the types of plastics used in healthcare and develop effective removal and reprocessing mechanisms to establish end-of-life solutions for plastic waste generated across healthcare facilities to reduce their environmental impact.

P1.2.1 Traceable recycled plastics for injection moulding

Neumann Steel and Griffith University

The aim of this project is to advance sustainability in construction by reducing polystyrene waste on building sites. The project centres around Neumann Steel’s patented NuPod® void formers and will ensure the consistency and quality of recycled plastics Neumann Steel uses in its injection moulding production processes.

P1.3.1 PHA Production from renewable resources

Minderoo Foundation, University of Queensland and RMIT University

The goal of the project is to provide the data, methods, insights, and technologies to develop a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production process from renewable resources that has a clear and credible pathway to commercial scale, and to transfer the process to pilot-scale operations.

P1.4.1 Social drivers and barriers to adopting compostable packaging

MyEco Group and RMIT University

This project seeks to define the usage, attitudes, barriers, drivers and opportunities with respect to compostable material adoption amongst representative key stakeholders across the value chain. It will generate the additional data/information required for more informed decisions by key stakeholders in the plastics value chain.

P1.4.2 Developing a compostable barrier film for food packaging

MyEco Group and RMIT University

The objective of this project is to develop a certified (home and/or industrial) compostable resin and/or film structure which is suitable for food packaging, with a shelf life appropriate to the specific food packaged, to replace conventional plastic, reduce the amount of soft plastic waste currently going to landfill and meet the demand of this emergent market.

Research Program 2

Recovery and Recycling – Maximising the recovery and value of end-of-life plastics

Research Program 2 (RP2) will increase the recovery, sorting and recycling of plastics, maximising the value of the recyclates and expanding the markets for products that contain them. It will also enhance technologies for energy recovery from plastic waste.

P2.3.1 Upcycling of polyurethane waste into high value materials

Demtech and Deakin University

The project aims to address the environmental challenge of polyurethane waste by developing and implementing an innovative recycling methodology to convert polyurethane waste into valuable recycled products.

P2.3.2 Development of sustainable polypropylene fibers and films from recycled waste

GALE Pacific and Deakin University

This project is aimed at tackling the significant challenge posed by polypropylene waste management through the development of advanced techniques for upcycling. The goal is to convert polypropylene waste into valuable materials suitable for manufacturing melt spun fibers and films.

P2.4.1 Pyrolysis process optimisation

APR Recycling and CQUniversity

This project aims to optimise the pyrolysis operating conditions and develop process control systems for APR Recycling to produce oil best suited for making virgin polyolefins.

P2.4.2 Advanced recycling technologies to address Australia’s plastic waste – 2026 update

CSIRO

CSIRO’s original August 2021 report, ‘Advanced Recycling Technologies to Address Australia’s Plastic Waste’, has been widely referenced across government, industry, and international forums. Given rapid developments in the field, an updated report is necessary to reflect the latest advancements and their applicability in Australia. This revised report will provide an in-depth analysis of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on pyrolysis and soft plastics recycling. It will serve as a key resource for stakeholders across policy, industry, and research, helping to drive informed decision-making and accelerate solutions to Australia’s plastic waste challenge.

Research Program 3

Circular Economy – Implementing a circular economy for plastics in Australia

Research Program 3 (RP3) will scale the delivery of a carbon neutral circular economy for plastics by developing circular business models and markets, evidence-based policy advice and globally-informed strategies, underpinned by a robust evidence base for industry decision-making.

P3.1.1 Towards a zero plastic waste circular economy in the City of Gold Coast

City of Gold Coast, Griffith University and University of Technology Sydney

This project has two crucial components towards creating a plastics circular economy roadmap for City of Gold Coast. Part 1 will build and expand data and insights on material flows, future projections, consumer attitudes towards recycling and product stewardship opportunities, to identify viable short-term (2025-2032) and long-term (beyond 2032 and the new ARRC) circular economy opportunities for the City. Part 2 will investigate socio-technical systems to better categorise and manage problematic plastics in the City.

P3.2.2 Improving recycled polyolefin quality and driving a circular economy in NSW

NSW Environment Protection Authority and University of Technology Sydney

This project seeks to understand the material qualities of recycled polyolefins in NSW and how these are impacted by system characteristics, including technical and social processes as well as economic drivers and regulatory frameworks. The study will analyse the polyolefin recycling system in NSW, considering feedstock, collection, sorting, processing, extrusion and end markets.

P3.2.3 Measuring and increasing the social value and impact from NSW Return and Earn

Exchange for Change (NSW) and University of Technology Sydney

This project aims to produce a novel evidence-base and methodologies to improve the evaluation and communication of social benefits from NSW Return and Earn scheme.

Research Program 4

Microplastics – Mitigating the risk of microplastics in agricultural soils

Research Program 4 (RP4) will develop standardised methods to determine the sources, fate, and dispersion of microplastics in Australia’s agricultural soils, examine the long-term risks to human and environmental health and provide effective mitigation strategies to reduce the transmission of microplastics to Australian soils.

P4.1.1 Developing standard protocols for the collection, isolation, quantification and characterisation of microplastics from soils and composts

NSW Environment Protection Authority, Environment Protection Authority VIC, Hort Innovation, RMCG, Total Environment Centre (TEC), Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA), Griffith University and RMIT University

Project details coming soon.

P4.1.2 Investigation of microplastics and plastic pipes

Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA), Griffith University and RMIT University

Project details coming soon.

P4.2.1 Sources, fate, and management of microplastics in Australian agricultural soils

Project details coming soon.

P4.2.2 Understanding Indigenous perspectives on plastics in soils and traditional foods

Earthwatch Institute and RMIT University

Project details coming soon.

P4.3.1 Anaerobic digester health-interaction of microplastics with the microbial community

Melbourne Water, RMIT University and The University of Queensland

Project details coming soon.

P4.4.1 Use of synthetic biology for microplastic-free compost

EntoZyme and Macquarie University

Project details coming soon.

New projects and partnership enquiries

The SPW CRC has an open call for new research projects proposed its Partners and by new organisations wanting to work with the SPW CRC.
If you have a project in mind, or would like to speak to us about partnering with us, we look forward to hearing from you. Please contact us using the form below.