European plastics industry association driving recycling innovation across packaging, automotive, and construction polymer waste streams.
EuPC is the leading European trade association representing plastics converters — the companies that transform raw polymers into finished plastic products across packaging, automotive, construction, and consumer goods. In H2020 projects, they bring industry-wide perspective on recycling technologies, circular economy strategies, and end-of-life management for plastic waste streams. Their role is to represent the plastics converting sector's needs and ensure that research outcomes align with real manufacturing conditions and market requirements. With membership spanning thousands of companies across Europe, they serve as a bridge between EU-funded research and the plastics processing industry.
Central theme across DEMETO (microwave depolymerization of PET), POLYNSPIRE (innovative recycling with vitrimers and magnetic catalysts), MERLIN (multilayer packaging recycling), and CISUFLO (circular floor coverings).
DEMETO focused on microwave-based PET depolymerization, POLYNSPIRE on chemical industry recycling processes, and MERLIN on chemical recycling of multilayer packaging.
All five projects address circularity — from the waste innovation network (New_Innonet) through specific recycling technologies to circular product design (CISUFLO).
MERLIN specifically targets multilayer packaging delamination and sorting; DEMETO addresses PET recycling relevant to packaging waste.
CISUFLO (2021-2025) addresses circular floor coverings including carpets, resilient flooring, and laminate — expanding beyond packaging into building products.
EuPC's early H2020 work (2015-2017) started with broad waste innovation strategy (New_Innonet) and then moved into specific polymer recycling chemistry — PET depolymerization via microwaves in DEMETO. From 2018 onward, their focus diversified significantly: they engaged with multi-polymer recycling (polyamide, polyurethane, polyolefin in POLYNSPIRE), tackled the difficult problem of multilayer packaging separation (MERLIN), and branched into circular product design for construction materials (CISUFLO). The trajectory shows a clear shift from single-polymer chemical recycling toward complex multi-material waste streams and full product lifecycle circularity.
EuPC is moving from pure recycling technology into circular product design and systemic approaches to multi-material waste — expect future engagement in design-for-recycling and cross-sector material recovery projects.
EuPC participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as an industry association that contributes sector knowledge rather than leading technical research. With 85 unique partners across 18 countries in just 5 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia (averaging 17+ partners per project). This wide network makes them a valuable connector: partnering with EuPC means gaining access to the European plastics converting industry's perspective and contacts.
EuPC has collaborated with 85 unique partners across 18 countries through 5 projects, giving them one of the broadest partner networks relative to project count. As a Brussels-based pan-European association, their connections span research institutes, technology providers, and industrial players across the EU plastics value chain.
EuPC is not a research lab or a technology company — they are THE voice of Europe's plastics converters, representing the companies that actually process polymers into products. This gives them unmatched insight into what recycling technologies will actually work at industrial scale and what the converting industry needs. For any consortium working on plastics circularity, having EuPC on board provides immediate credibility with the converting sector and a direct channel to thousands of potential end-users of research results.
