Circular Plastic: Utilising frontier technology and user-centred design to add value to plastic waste, facilitating entrepreneurship and employment

该集群汇集了五个先前资助的GCRF项目，旨在利用3D打印等技术解决资金不足的DAC中低收入国家（LMICs）日益增长的塑料废物管理挑战。3D打印已被认为是英国国际发展部、联合国儿童基金会和联合国应在国际发展中使用的领先前沿技术（Ramalingam等人，2016；UN, 2018）。目前，该技术正处于一个“临界点”，它正在成为一种可行的制造技术，并被认为是下一次工业革命的基石（Rauch， Dallasega和Matt， 2016）。这项改变游戏规则的技术预计将对中低收入国家产生重大影响。该项目利用这项技术和当地的塑料废物作为3D打印机中使用的材料来制造新产品。为塑料废物引起的问题制定解决方案至关重要，特别是在基础设施薄弱和废物管理系统不足的中低收入国家（Plastics Europe, 2018）。发展前沿技术（3D打印）并挖掘其在中低收入国家的潜力也至关重要，因为它们提供了一种跨越传统制造业的方法，传统制造业是高度资本密集型的，具有创造新业务和支持财富创造的能力。这个新的网络使研究人员能够在卢旺达和尼日利亚开发两个网络中心，将塑料瓶转化为3D打印的长丝，这不仅大大增加了塑料废物的价值，而且还能够创造新产品（如家居用品、假肢、医疗部件）和新的企业和业务。因此，这个项目将；支持当前技术发展的综合，与当地社区一起创建12个产品概念，并帮助开发商业模式。这些知识将在每个中心的设计研讨会上传播，开发新的创业技能和遗留的在线资源，使其他中心能够在DAC国家启动。项目成果将通过以下工作包实现：WP1 -综合当前技术研究以了解流程（德蒙福特大学）WP2 -在DAC国家创建两个新的网络中心以了解技术潜力。（阿斯顿大学，非政府组织贸易技术支持）WP3 -将设计文档翻译成可访问的格式（工具包，视频），可以在世界各地访问。（阿斯顿大学）WP4 -建立设计能力研讨会，展示技术的潜在应用，支持创业和就业（拉夫堡大学）。该项目的成果将体现在一个互动网站、工具包和视频中，与任何希望使用该模式开发中心并创造就业（直接/间接）的人直接相关，最终有助于联合国2030年议程中确定的减轻贫困。一旦建立，设想所创建的网络将不断发展，并在GCRF资助地区开展塑料废物管理解决方案的开创性研究，并利用前沿技术。

This cluster brings together five previously funded GCRF projects which aim to tackle the ever-growing challenge of managing plastic waste in underfunded DAC Low Middle Income Countries (LMICs) using technologies such as 3D Printing. 3D printing has been recognised as a leading frontier technology which should be utilised within international development by the UK Department for International Development, UNICEF and the United Nations (Ramalingam et al., 2016; UN, 2018). Currently, the technology is at a 'tipping point', where it is becoming a feasible manufacturing technique and is considered to be the cornerstone of the next industrial revolution (Rauch, Dallasega and Matt, 2016). This game-changing technology is expected to have a substantial impact in LMICs. The project utilises this technology and local plastic waste as the material used in the 3D printers to create new products. It is fundamentally important to develop solutions to the problems caused by plastic waste, especially in LMICs which have poor infrastructure and inadequate waste management systems (Plastics Europe, 2018). It is also critical that frontier technologies (3D printing) are developed and their potential explored in LMICs as they provide a method to leapfrog traditional manufacturing, which is highly capitally intensive and has the ability to create new businesses and support wealth generation. This new network enables researchers to develop two network hubs in Rwanda and Nigeria which will convert plastic bottles into filament for 3D printing which not only significantly adds value to the plastic waste, but also enables the creation of new products (such as homeware, prosthetics, medical components) and new enterprises and businesses. This project will, therefore; support the synthesis of current technology development, create twelve product concepts with local communities and help develop business models. This knowledge will be disseminated during a design workshop at each hub, developing new entrepreneurship skills and a legacy online resource which will enable other hubs to be started in DAC countries. The project outcomes will be achieved through the following work-packages:WP1 - Synthesis current technology research to understand the process (De Montfort University)WP2 - Create two new network hubs in DAC countries to understand the potential of the technology. (Aston University with support from NGO Tech for Trade) WP3 - Translate design documentation into an accessible format (toolkit, video) which can be accessed around the world. (Aston University)WP4 - Build design capability workshops to demonstrate the potential application of the technology and support entrepreneurship and employment (Loughborough University). The outcomes of the project will be embodied in an interactive website, toolkit and video which has direct relevance for anyone wishing to develop a hub using this model and create employment (direct/indirect) that will ultimately contribute to the alleviation of poverty as identified in the UN2030 Agenda. Once established it is envisaged that the network created will grow and conduct pioneering research into solutions to plastic waste management and utilise frontier technology in GCRF funded regions.