More than €18 million in grants awarded to circular plastics projects 

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), on behalf of the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, announced which projects will receive funding within the CPNL Call 2025, part of the National Growth Fund (NGF).

We congratulate the implementers: NTCP, Kunststof Recycling Van Werven, TNO, Utrecht University, ISPT, Van Dijk Containers and Morssinkhof Plastics on this award. Their projects range from applied research and small-scale pilots to large-scale chain projects (TRL 4-7). Together with their consortium partners, they contribute to more circularity in diverse plastic value chains.

• Inline Analysis – Plastic sorting 4.0, is developing new sensor technologies and AI models to better identify and separate plastics by type, subtype and composition. With its partners, it is working on the next generation of sorting systems that will enable higher quality recycled plastics.Project partners: Van Werven, Spectral Industries, Bollegraaf, DYKA, Wageningen University & Research, TI-COAST
• Control of household waste sorting by AI (ChowsAI), is developing smart, AI-driven techniques to improve the sorting of household plastic waste. With partners, it is working on real-time monitoring, process control and a digital twin of sorting lines to increase the quality of recycled material, reduce waste and strengthen the circular plastics chain. Project partners: NTCP, Verpact, Omrin, LyondellBasell, Danone, Radboud University
• polarID: POLARization based IDentification of plastics for in-line sorting, is developing a new optical measurement system that can use polarized light to identify and sort plastic films and foils in real time. Using machine learning and industrial validation, this should lead to more efficient and cleaner recycling of plastics. Project partners: TNO, BCS, Plastic Recycling Group, Broeckx Recycling, Extract Plastic, Lyondell Basell, BASF
• Optimal Chain for Efficient and AdvaNced Recycling of Mixed Plastic (OCEAN-RMP), is investigating how mixed plastic waste can be pre-treated more efficiently and processed into high-quality feedstock for chemical recycling. It is working with partners on new pre-treatment techniques and chain optimization to improve the quality of pyrolysis oils and make the circular plastics chain economically viable. Project partners: Attero, Renewi, Maastricht University, Chemelot Campus, Sabic, Sitch Services, TNO
• Catalytic Low-temp Efficiency for Advanced decontaminatioN (CLEAN), is developing new, energy-efficient catalysts to recycle plastic waste, especially polyolefin films, more cleanly and efficiently into high-value raw materials. An innovative chain from waste collection to chemical reuse is being developed, with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of chemical recycling. Project partners: Utrecht University, Renewi, BlueAlp, Shell
• RePLaCE; Recycling of Plastics from Cars and Electronic Equipment, focuses on increasing both the quality and quantity of recycled plastics from cars and electronic equipment. It works with partners to develop new technologies for identifying, purifying and reusing plastics – with a particular focus on black plastics and the removal of harmful additives. Through lab- and pilot-scale research, we are working towards practical, economically viable solutions and predictive models that contribute to high-quality, circular plastic chains for the mobility and electronics industries. Project partners: ISPT, Maastricht University, Polymer Science Park, ARN, Envalior, LyondellBasell, HKS, Philips, DAF, Schneider Electric, ReSolved
• High Value Carpet Recycling, focuses on developing a complete value chain for collecting, separating and recycling discarded carpet into new, high value applications. With the partners, work is underway on a pilot installation that shows that PP, PET and PA fibers from carpet can be reused to spin yarn, an important step toward circular flooring. Project partners: Van Dijk Containers, Condor Group, Visscher-Caravelle, Polymer Science Park, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Veolia, Partners for Innovation, Eastman, Fibrant, Aquafil/Econyl
• RePliCa – Reycle Plastic in Cans, focuses on closing the loop for HDPE milk bottles used for pasteurized milk. With partners, work is underway on a new demo plant in Heerenveen, where innovative sorting techniques and decontamination processes will be applied to turn used HDPE milk bottles into food-safe recyclate, an important step towards the 2030 PPWR targets. Project partners: Morssinkhof Plastics, Mors-Invest, SABIC Global Technologies, Farm Dairy, Wageningen University and Research, Kunststoffen Sorteer Installatie, Verpact
• Microplastics in plastic recycling (MiPlaR), focuses on measuring, reducing and recovering microplastics generated during plastic packaging recycling. Through collaboration, it is working on practical solutions and innovative filtration and process modifications to prevent emissions. Project partners: NTCP, TNO, Verpact, Van Dam Machine, ISPT, HTP, Wetsus, Malvern Panalytical, Sun Chemical, Province of Friesland, Rijkswaterstaat

In total, more than €18 million in grants were awarded for nine projects, almost double the amount awarded in the previous round. With more than €100 million in private co-financing, companies and knowledge institutions are demonstrating the willingness to invest in a circular plastics economy.

Looking ahead: grant round 2026

Despite strong interest, the full budget of €42 million was not fully allocated because a number of applications did not meet all of RVO s assessment criteria. CPNL is committed to adding and redistributing the remaining €24 million within the upcoming 2026 grant round.

Source

Circular Plastics NL, press release, 2025-10-23.

Supplier

Agentschap NL (Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl))
BASF Corporation (US)
Bollegraaf
Broeckx Plastic Recycling Group
Circular Plastics Alliance CPA
Danone Dairies UK
DYKA Plastic Pipe Systems
ISPT
LyondellBasell Industries
Morssinkhof Plastics
National Test Centre Circular Plastics NTCP
Omrin - AMCS-Gruppe
Radboud University, Nijmegen (NL)
Spectral Industries
The National Growth Fund
TI-COAST
TNO
Utrecht University
Van Dijk Containers
Van Werven Plastic Recycling
Verpact
Wageningen University

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