DECOMPOSE

Plastic pollution, including tiny fragments known as microplastics, can adversely affect the environment, wildlife and humans. Only a very small percentage of commodity plastics are recycled. Much of the rest is incinerated, sits in landfills or is abandoned in the environment. Biodegradable plastics can ease this problem, especially if these are made from renewable resources. The combination of biodegradability and renewability allows to reduce the use of fossil fuel resources, decrease the material's carbon footprint, and lead to a faster decomposition. The EU-funded DECOMPOSE project plans to synthesise supramolecular polymers containing metal ions (metallosupramolecular polymers) and precursors from renewable resources to facilitate recycling and degradation of commodity polymers. The project will offer researchers the opportunity to improve their scientific skills and expand their network in the field of polymer and material science.