NERC, on behalf of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), is working with Innovate UK, to convene a scoping workshop which aims to bring together members of the research and innovation communities with an interest in the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge and to strengthen collaboration, enabling greater interdisciplinary working. The meeting aims to:

• Communicate the remit and objectives of the SSPP programme
• Bring together researchers and industry from a variety of disciplines with interests in sustainable plastic packaging research and innovation
• Discuss the scope of the Enabling Research work stream
• Seek input on key research and innovation challenges and opportunities

UKCPN is running a series of events to introduce potential opportunities for your business in this area and also understand the actual challenges you have, both now and in the future. This event is relevant for businesses who:

• Design, make, use, discard, re-use, recycle plastic or plastic-containing products.
• Want to find out more about government funded initiatives to work sustainably with plastics.
• Want to hear from other local businesses working sustainably with plastics.
• Want to learn about recent innovations and technology developments.
• Are interested in discussing the challenges you have or expecting to have to work sustainably with plastics.
• Are interested in discussing solutions/innovations you have or developing to work sustainably with plastics.

UKCPN is partnering with the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures to run an event looking at the challenges of the sustainable use of plastics in the agriculture sector. It will look at the current state and potential of recycling technologies, for example in silage wrap and mulches, and also the behavioural changes that need to occur in the farming community to reclaim more of the plastic. So please put Friday 7th February 2020 in your calendar and we will be giving out more details soon.