From October 31 to November 1, 2024, a workshop and partner meeting of the National Competence Center for Polymeric Materials and Technologies for the 21st Century (PolyEnvi21) took place in Zlín. During the workshop, individual researchers presented their sub-projects, focusing on solutions being developed for end-use industrial applications. At the regular meeting of the project consortium representatives, interim outcomes of the sub-projects were presented and discussed. This center, coordinated by Tomas Bata University (TBU) in Zlín, aims to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, thereby accelerating the development and application of new environmentally friendly polymeric materials and technologies.
The current sub-projects within PolyEnvi21 cover a wide range of topics relevant to implementing the principles of a circular economy in the plastics industry. “Specifically, we are addressing projects aimed at improving the efficiency of automated sorting of plastic waste for subsequent mechanical, chemical, and biological recycling. Furthermore, technologies are being developed in collaboration with industrial partners to maximize the meaningful use of waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators,” explains the center’s director, Prof. Vladimír Sedlařík. This effort also includes technologies for removing undesirable substances that complicate recycling processes. Additionally, new material systems are being developed to enable, for example, the production of automotive components that do not emit harmful pollutants into the air, materials based on renewable raw materials, and preparations for more efficient management of agrochemicals.
The National Competence Center project is one of the highly effective incentive tools for applied industrial research and experimental development. The National Competence Center for Polymeric Materials and Technologies for the 21st Century (PolyEnvi21) focuses on developing new polymer systems that consider sustainable development goals, practical applicability, and economic competitiveness. PolyEnvi21’s key expertise lies in the mechanical, chemical, and biological recycling of polymeric materials, including associated processes. Significant attention is given to the comprehensive development of solutions to fulfill circular economy principles.
The National Competence Center for Polymeric Materials and Technologies for the 21st Century project is supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (project no. TN02000051). The project commenced on January 1, 2023, and will run until December 31, 2028.
