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

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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.