CEAMS WORKSHOP | Industrial Engineering Polymer Recycling: Exploring the Landscape

OVERVIEW

In collaboration with the British Plastics Federation (BPF), the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability is hosting an exploratory workshop for businesses operating across the lifecycle of difficult-to-recycle engineering polymers.

Designed specifically for engineering plastic producers, manufacturers using recycled feedstocks, and organisations involved in plastic waste management and recycling — this event will help your business navigate the technical, commercial, and regulatory challenges associated with polymer waste, and identify practical routes to innovation, scale-up, and circular solutions.

This free-to-attend workshop will be hosted at the Manchester Museum and will bring together a network of UK businesses alongside leading experts in sustainable materials, recycling technologies, and circular economy innovation.

WHAT YOU’LL GAIN

By attending, your organisation will benefit from:

• Direct access to a network of like-minded businesses, researchers, and innovation specialists working on polymer sustainability and recycling
• Insight from academic and RTO experts supporting UK industry to overcome technical, commercial and regulatory challenges related to polymers.
• A clearer understanding of emerging technologies, regulatory drivers, and market opportunities affecting engineering polymers and recycled plastics

REAL-WORLD GUIDANCE FROM RESEARCH & INDUSTRY

The workshop is structured in two parts:

Expert Talks

The morning session will feature focused talks from industry leaders and subject matter experts covering topics such as:

• Innovation in difficult-to-recycle polymers
• Regulatory challenges across the product lifecycle
• Advances in research and technologies
• Circular economy models and waste management challenges

Interactive Roundtables

• The second part of the event will consist of facilitated roundtable discussions with the same experts. These sessions are designed to:
• Enable open discussion of real industrial challenges
• Share experiences across the value chain, from production to end-of-life
• Identify practical, collaborative approaches to improving polymer recyclability and waste outcomes

1:1 EXPERT SUPPORT

All attendees will receive a dedicated 1:1 session with a CEAMS Application Scientist. These confidential sessions offer free, tailored advice to help you address your own research and development challenges in sustainable materials, drawing on extensive sectoral expertise.

ABOUT CEAMS

CEAMS provides innovation support to drive the adoption of sustainable materials. The partnership connects industry with pioneering research and innovation assets to propel materials advancements crucial for a greener future.

CEAMS is regional programme and is a collaboration between Royce and other key national partners to help and support businesses across the UK to:

• Commercialise a sustainable material (s) or
• Develop an innovative idea to make the materials or process they use sustainable

CEAMS acts as a bridge between academic research expertise, commercial exploitation, and scale-up, offering businesses a funding pathway to develop new processes and products, adopt sustainable materials, and re-use waste materials.

WHY ATTEND? 

Workshop attendees will:

• Learn about CEAMS capabilities in sustainable materials across sectors such as consumer products, packaging, and fast-moving consumer goods
• Engage directly with academics and technical experts throughout the event
• Take part in a Sustainability Triage, including a 1:1 discussion focused on materials testing, characterisation, development, and lifecycle considerations relevant to your business

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? 

This workshop is best suited to professionals in leadership, management, or technical roles who are involved in decision-making around materials, sustainability, or innovation. Particularly if you are a:

• Plastics producer
• Plastics producer who uses recycled feedstocks
• Involved in plastic waste management

PROGRAMME

LOCATION

Kanaris Theatre, Manchester Museum, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PL

REFRESHMENTS

A complimentary breakfast will be provided, and drinks will be available throughout the session. Please include any specific dietary requirements on your registration form.

ATTENDEE CRITERIA

To attend your company must be based in the UK and registered with Companies House. If numbers are oversubscribed preference will be given to companies based within the Greater Manchester region.