The PolyCE Project

According to PolyCe, "Although there are individual efforts to improve the collection and recycling of plastics in electronic waste (e-waste) the plastics value chain is still too fragmented, and recycled plastics are still perceived as unattractive to the end-user. For reference, the European Commission estimates e-waste to be one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU, expected to grow to more than 12 million tonnes by 2020. PolyCE (or Post-Consumer High-tech Recycled Polymers for a Circular Economy), a European Commission funded project consisting of a consortium of 20 expert organisations, has taken on the challenge of addressing this problem during the next four years".

"Through significantly reducing the use of virgin plastics and enhancing the use of recycled plastics in new electronics applications, PolyCE will:

Demonstrate the feasibility of a circular model for the plastics supply and value chain.

Develop a grading system for recycled plastics, which will ultimately serve to provide guidelines for designing new electronic products.

Involve green public procurement initiatives and consumer awareness raising campaigns across the EU (with a focus on Germany, Poland, Italy and France).

Establish a feedback loop from research activities that provides policy input regarding technical feasibilities and conflicts from a technical perspective".