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.
The 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 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.
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.
- Technology, products, processes and services
- Business models, investments and procurement
- Policy and regulations
- Behavior, culture and values
- 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 takes a position on 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.