Plastic Contract for Sustainable Plastic Use

Together with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and several other actors, Vinnova is working to reduce the climate and environmental impact of plastics. This call for proposals is part of this collaboration and aims to facilitate and accelerate the transition to resource-efficient and circular plastic flows.

In order to be able to switch to sustainable plastic use, collaboration between many different actors such as plastic manufacturers, plastic users and recyclers is required. The purpose of the call for proposals is to be a springboard for mobilizing actors, initiating the transition and developing the innovative solutions needed.

This call for proposals tests the new plastic contract tool, which is intended to facilitate collaboration between different actors by regulating commitments and defining objective for the transition to sustainable plastic flows.

To lay the foundation for a future plastic contract, funding is provided for:

• Mobilization of actors around an idea for sustainable transformation of a plastic flow and a future plastic contract.
• Development of innovative solutions and business models for sustainable plastic flows.
• Analysis of various obstacles and conditions for the realization of innovative solutions and the transition to sustainable plastic flows.

The projects must involve at least three project partners that are companies in the relevant plastic value chain. In addition, we would like to see collaboration with municipalities, authorities, researchers and non-profit organizations.

Vinnova can grant up to SEK 1,000,000 for a project lasting up to 12 months. The maximum support level for a project is 70 percent.

There is a great need to accelerate the transition to more sustainable plastic use. It is a complex task that requires efforts from many different actors and innovative solutions, but also managing different types of challenges that affect the conditions for switching to more sustainable plastic flows.

Together with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and several other actors, Vinnova is working to promote sustainable plastic use and reduce plastic's environmental impact. The next step in this collaboration is to test a new tool: plastic contracts.

Together for sustainable plastic use

What is a plastic contract?

Plastic contracts function as an agreement where companies, authorities and other organizations come together to jointly contribute to reducing the negative environmental impact of plastics. Together, concrete sustainability goals for the life cycle of plastics are formulated, which becomes the basis for contracts and commitments. By entering into a plastic contract, the actors commit to collaborating in developing solutions and switching to resource-efficient, circular and non-toxic plastic flows with minimal spread of plastic to the environment.

Call for proposals aim

The purpose of the call for proposals is to contribute to developing innovative solutions and other conditions needed for plastics contracts to be established and the goals of the contracts to be achieved.

Examples of activities that are funded:

• Mobilization of actors around an idea for sustainable transformation of a plastic flow and a future plastic contract.
• Development of innovative solutions and business models for sustainable plastic flows.
• Analysis of various obstacles and conditions for the realization of innovative solutions and the transition to sustainable plastic flows.

The projects that are funded will focus on transitioning to resource-efficient and circular flows. This means that project that primarily focus on replacing plastic with other materials will not be funded. Rubber is included in the work for sustainable plastic use, since the concept of microplastics includes both particles of plastic and rubber. For more details on concepts in the plastics area, see common concepts in plastics on the Swedish National Water Resources Agency's website.

The conditions for implementing innovative solutions and transitioning to sustainable plastic flows are affected by various systemic obstacles and challenges. We therefore want the projects to be developed and implemented taking into account the following five system perspectives. We assess that all five are relevant to consider but expect at least two to be central parts in the implementation of the project.

1. Technology, products, processes and services
2. Business models, investments and procurement
3. Policy and regulations
4. Behavior, culture and values
5. Infrastructure

In addition to providing funding for various project activities, we will organize meetings to promote collaboration and exchange of experiences between the projects and enable dialogues with authorities and experts in various relevant areas. The idea is, for example, to support the development of plastic contracts and dialogues on policy and instruments.

Performance targets

The projects are expected to result in:

• Actors are engaged in joint work for the sustainable transformation of a plastic flow and around a draft of a plastic contract with measurable and timed objective.
• Innovative solutions and business models with potential to contribute to significantly more sustainable plastic use.
• A plan for continued work on the plastics contract including the development and implementation of innovative solutions for transitioning to sustainable plastic flows.
• Increased knowledge about different systemic conditions for implementing innovations and switching to sustainable plastic flows.

Impact goals

In the longer term, the projects are expected to individually or jointly contribute to:

• Plastic contracts that have been signed by actors in the plastic value chain.
• Implementation of innovative solutions and transition to sustainable plastic flows.
• Established collaboration on policy issues between policy actors, stakeholders and experts (participatory collaboration for this is mandatory during the project period).
• Reduced obstacles and improved systemic conditions for sustainable conversion of plastic flows.

Contribute to a sustainable system transformation

Vinnova is tasked with promoting sustainable growth and system transformation. To implement sustainable system transformation, we have chosen to base ourselves on the UN's global sustainability goals, defined in the 2030 Agenda. There, Vinnova prioritizes two perspectives: gender equality and climate change. All initiatives and project we finance are assessed based on how they contribute to these perspectives.

We therefore always follow up and assess this:

• If women and men participate in the project on an equal footing, receive contributions and have influence and power over the project.
• How well the project analyzes and decides whether there are sex or gender aspects that are relevant to the project's problem formulation, solutions and effects.
• How well the project contributes to the climate transition with a focus on:
  - reduced greenhouse gas emissions
  - reduced emissions of environmental pollutants
  - increased biodiversity
  - increased circularity and resource efficiency

Gender-equal innovation – what it means for those seeking funding from us

Agenda 2030 as a driver for innovation

Making scientific publications and results available

When results from research and innovation are made freely available, more people can contribute to solving societal challenges. This the call for proposals will help make results available to everyone. Therefore, any scientific publication should be open access.

The call for proposals is aimed at manufacturers and users of plastics and plastic products, as well as other types of actors in the private, public and non-profit sectors who jointly want to contribute to a more sustainable use of plastics. The project partners must be legal entities.

The projects must involve at least three project partners that are companies in the relevant plastics value chain. In addition, we would like to see collaboration with municipalities, authorities, researchers and non-profit organizations.

International collaboration can be a strength, but in this the call for proposals we only fund project partners that are legal entities in Sweden. Foreign partners can participate in the project but will not receive funding from Vinnova. In this respect, a Swedish legal entity is considered to be a foreign organization that has a branch or establishment in Sweden. Only costs that can be attributed to a branch or establishment in Sweden are eligible for support.

What costs can we finance?

Our funding is subject to state aid rules. The rules govern what types of costs we can finance. These are called eligible costs.

In this the call for proposals these types of costs are eligible:

• Personnel costs: Salaries, social security contributions and other personnel costs.
• Equipment, land and buildings: Instruments, equipment and rent for premises other than regular business premises.
• Consulting and licensing costs: Consulting services, knowledge and patents purchased or licensed from a third party. Costs for consulting services from third parties may not exceed 20 percent of a project party's budget.
• Other direct costs: For example, materials, supplies and travel necessary to carry out the project.
• Indirect costs (overhead): Costs that are not incurred as a direct result of but can be related to the project, for example regular premises and cleaning. Indirect costs may constitute a maximum of 30 percent of personnel costs. Universities, university colleges and certain research organizations and government agencies have higher maximum limits depending on the type of activities.

For more detailed information about which costs we can finance, see Instructions for eligible costs

What eligibility requirements apply to costs we finance?

For a cost to be eligible, it must be:

• necessary for the activities in the project
• recorded correctly and separately from the organization's other costs.

An organization may also not claim someone else's costs as its own.

For more detailed information on which eligibility requirements, limitations and exceptions apply, see Instructions for eligible costs

The state aid rules also govern how much of the costs we can finance. This is determined individually for each organization. We therefore differentiate between how much funding the project can receive, and how much each participant can receive.

How much funding can the project receive?

The grant can amount to a maximum of SEK 1,000,000 per project and have a project duration of no more than 12 months. The maximum aid intensity is 70 percent of the project's total eligible costs.

How much funding can a participant receive?

How much funding each participant can receive depends mainly on:

• what activities the party will carry out in the project
• party size and activities.

In this the call for proposals we provide support for industrial research or experimental development. Industrial research can be simply described as seeking new knowledge through planned research or critical analysis to develop or significantly improve products, processes or services. Experimental development can be simply described as combining, shaping and using existing knowledge to produce new or improved products, processes or services.

For a complete definition, see funding bases and levels of support

How much of the costs can we finance?

The size of the organization and type of activity determines how large a proportion of the costs we can finance, i.e. the maximum level of support.

Bonus basics

If the project is covered by any of these bonus bases, we can finance a higher proportion of the costs according to the table:

• Actual cooperation: Some level of cooperation between small and larger companies, between companies in two different European countries or between research organisations and companies
• Dissemination of results: Extensive dissemination through, for example, conferences or open databases.
• Other bonus basis

For full information on these bonus bases, see funding Bases and Support Levels

We grant funding in accordance with Article 25 of the EU Commission's General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).

In this the call for proposals we also provide support to organisations that do not engage in economic activities. This means that they do not offer a service or product on a market. This usually includes universities and university colleges, research institutes and other organisations.

We can finance up to 100 percent of organizational costs.

How do you determine whether an organization is engaged in economic activities?

An organization that offers any kind of service or product on a market is considered to be conducting economic activities and cannot be granted this form of support. It does not matter how the organization is financed, whether it is public or private, or whether it has a profit motive. It also does not matter what legal form the business has. For example, whether it is a limited liability company, a trading company, an economic association, a non-profit association or a foundation.

If you are unsure whether an organization in your project is conducting economic activities, contact call manager. However, the organization is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting economic activities.

In order for us to take a position on and assess your proposal, it must meet certain formal eligibility requirements. If the requirements are not met, proposal will be rejected immediately.

Eligibility requirements on organizational form of project partners

• All project partners must be legal entities. Natural persons or individual companies cannot participate as project partners.
• The coordinating party must be a Swedish legal entity and conduct activities in Sweden.

Eligibility requirements for the project

• The project manager must be employed by the coordinating party in the project.
• The project may not begin before proposal is submitted.
• Costs for consulting services from outside parties may constitute a maximum of 20 percent of a project party's budget.
• At the time of application, the constellation of actors must consist of at least three project partners who are companies.

Eligibility requirements on proposal

• Proposal must be written in Swedish or English.
• Proposal must follow the instructions given in section 9.
• Proposal must contain all requested attachments.

What do we assess?

Applications that meet the requirements in section 6 are assessed based on the assessment criteria potential, actors and implementation, see below.

Assessment criteria

Potential, weighted by 40 percent

• The project's potential to contribute to the call's results- and impact goals. See section 2 for further information.
• How well the project contributes to sustainable plastic use with a focus on resource-efficient and circular flows.
• How well a systems perspective has been integrated into the project.
• How well the project is assessed to contribute to increased gender equality.

Actors, weighted by 30 percent

• Composition, competence, ability and commitment in relation to project goals and implementation.
• The project manager's competence, credibility and commitment to leading the project.
• How well the project team is composed in terms of gender distribution. As well as how well power and influence are distributed between women and men in the project team.

Feasibility, weighted by 30 percent

• The realism and credibility of the project plan and budget, as well as the extent to which the content of the work packages is appropriate for achieving the project's objective.
• Approach as well as organization and involvement of project parties and relevant actors.
• How well gender equality has been integrated into the project plan.

How do we assess?

Proposal are assessed in competition with other applications submitted to the call for proposals.

This is what the decision-making process looks like:

1. Proposal are submitted to Vinnova's e-services. All applications that meet formal eligibility requirements are assessed by a composite group of specially appointed and appointed evaluator, as well as Vinnova's internal evaluator.
2. Vinnova makes decisions about which project will be financed.
3. Decision will be notified to applicant.

We also assess financial status

Before deciding on funding, we also conduct a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those receiving funding. We use information we obtain from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.

In order for us to grant funding this applies:

• Organizations seeking funding for personnel costs must be registered as employers with the Swedish Tax Agency.
• Organizations must not be insolvent, undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring, nor must they have unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• Limited liability companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.
• If requested, SMEs must be able to demonstrate that they have the financial means to implement the project according to their budget in proposal. They cannot use public funding or their own funds intended for other project to cover project costs in this call for proposals.

Once we have assessed all applications, we will send you a decision either granting or rejecting your proposal. In the decision, we state how much funding each party in the project will be granted. Our decision cannot be appealed.

What if you are granted funding?

If we grant your proposal, you must follow our general terms and conditions for funding. The terms and conditions include, among other things:

• That you will sign a special document in which you approve your participation and commit to carrying out the project.
• That you report how things are going, your costs and achieved results to us regularly during the project period.
• If you are multiple parties, you must agree on your mutual rights and obligations in the project in an agreement. It can take time to get a project agreement in place, so it is a good idea to get this in place before the project starts.
• How the results will be used and how any scientific publication will take place.

See our general terms and conditions and get help understanding and fulfilling them

You also need to follow the special conditions that apply to this the call for proposals:

• The project must be represented by at least one participant at the activities convened by Vinnova.
• The project will establish a continuous dialogue with Vinnova with aim, together with other granted project, of collaborating on an agreement between several actors in the plastics value chain that strengthens and accelerates the industry's climate transition.

We may also decide to add supplementary special conditions for individual project. In such cases, they will be stated in the decision.

Could you have to pay back funding?

If you do not follow our term, you may be required to repay the amount. This also applies if you have been granted funding incorrectly or for an amount that is too high.

To apply for funding you fill out a proposal in our e-service. Proposal contains questions about the project, participating project partners and budget.

Please also attach these attachments to proposal:

• A project description according to the mandatory template, maximum 10 pages.
• CV attachment for the project manager and other key people in the project according to the mandatory CV template, maximum 1 page per person.

Start proposal well in advance

Keep in mind that it takes time to make a proposal. Filling out templates can take several days, as it is based on the analyses you will do.

In our e-service you can start filling in the details and then continue at a later time. You can also give permissions to others who you want to contribute to proposal. When proposal is complete, mark it as done.

You can unlock proposal and make changes at any time, right up until the last application date. If you unlock proposal, you must then mark it as ready for it to be registered when the call for proposals closes.

2025-04-03

Changes in section 2 and under the heading " aim of the call". The following text has been added.

Rubber is included in the work for a sustainable use of plastics, this is because the concept of microplastics includes both particles of plastic and rubber. For more details on concepts in the plastics area, see common concepts in plastics on the Swedish National Agency for Environmental Protection's website.