Webinar PORLEC: Exploring Europe and Canadian cooperation in plastics & Rubbers Industries

07 May 2025 from 3.00 to 4.30 PM CET

In the frame of the POLREC project, the partners organised a collective economic mission to Quebec from 3 to 6 February 2025 on polymer waste recycling with 9 enterprises participants and 2 clusters, CENTIMFE & Polymeris.

Canada, the world's 6th largest producer of plastics, has been identified as a promising market, particularly the province of Quebec, which accounts for 70% of Canadian plastics companies, 31% of rubber industry companies and 23% of composite industry companies. POLREC clusters partners in Quebec (Alliance Polymers Quebec, Elastomer Valley and PRIMA Quebec) have expressed their desire to strengthen their collaboration with European partners and to promote the sustainability of their industries. To explore economic development opportunities for plastics and rubber companies, Polymeris is organising with the support of POLREC partners a webinar on 7 May from 3pm to 4.30pm to report on the POLREC mission. This webinar will present the Canadian market and its economic development opportunities, as well as feedback from companies on the Canadian market and online networking with Canadian companies via the Global Polymers platform.

POLREC’s Second and Final Training Open Call closes, benefiting 56 European SMEs

The POLREC Training Open Call targets SMEs in the plastics, rubber, and composites industries, aiming to enhance the skills of their staff through training programs related to polymer recycling. The overall goal is to foster the adoption of polymer recycling methods among SMEs, helping them reduce CO₂ emissions and strengthen collaboration with other European SMEs.

📌 Focus areas: Recycling of polymer/elastomer waste & digital solutions for recycling processes

1st Training Open Call

✅ 48 applications selected
💰 Total budget awarded: €55,737
🏢 34 European SMEs benefited*
📅 The 1st POLREC Training Open Call closed on October 31, 2024.

2nd Training Open Call

✅ 28 applications selected
💰 Total budget awarded: €34,400
🏢 22 European SMEs benefited*
📅 The 2nd POLREC Training Open Call closed on March 11, 2025.
(*Including SMEs from Single Market Programme (SMP) associated countries.)

Overall impact
In total, 56 SMEs have been awarded a combined budget of €89,738 to develop training programs that will equip them with new knowledge and skills to implement polymer/elastomer waste recycling and digital solutions for recycling processes. 

Training in the Danish Ecosystem 

In January 2025, four courses were held, focusing on sustainability and innovation within plastics and packaging. The courses were organized by two prominent Danish service providers: Reccura and Kirsten Lykke.

Reccura hosted three courses, all aimed at helping businesses navigate the latest regulations and technological advancements in sustainability. The first course, ESG and CSRD focused on plastics, provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements related to plastic production and handling, as well as how to comply with the new CSRD regulations that are crucial for companies working with plastics. The second course, Digital Product Passport, introduced participants to how digital product passports can enhance transparency and traceability of plastic products, making it easier to implement a circular economy. The third course, Polymer Recycling Technologies, focused on the latest technologies and methods for plastic recycling, a key part of creating a more sustainable future for the plastics industry.

Kirsten Lykke held a course titled Make Your Flexible Packaging Sustainable and Navigate the Pitfalls, which was very well received. The course provided participants with in-depth knowledge on how to make flexible packaging more sustainable by choosing the right materials and technologies, while avoiding common pitfalls in implementing sustainable solutions. Participants also gained practical insights into optimizing the packaging lifecycle and reducing environmental impact.

A total of 64 individuals participated in the courses, coming from a wide range of industries including plastic production, packaging, and recycling. The courses were praised for their practical approach and for equipping participants with tangible tools to work with sustainability and circular economy practices in their daily operations.
 

Exciting Networking Opportunities & Upcoming Conferences in Heilbronn

Open Call for Networking

We are thrilled to announce that we have received 49 applications from 12 countries for 20 events related to polymer recycling and other key topics within the POLREC initiative. We are currently in the process of evaluating the applications and will soon inform the selected participants. Stay tuned for updates!

Upcoming POLREC General Assembly & Sustainability Conference

First week of April, the POLREC Consortium will hold its General Assembly in Heilbronn. This event will be connected to the Sustainability Conference (2nd April) , which focuses on extending the lifecycle of plastics and plastic components.

A key challenge in the industry is that many users are unaware of the recycling potential and lifecycle extension possibilities of their products. Additionally, the availability of certain raw materials remains a concern. To address these issues, DHBW Heilbronn and the Economic Development Agency of Heilbronn are organizing a platform for regional and international exchange and networking.

Clusters Meet Region Conference – April 9, Heilbronn

Heilbronn will also host the "Clusters Meet Region" Conference, organized by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) in collaboration with the Economic Development Agency of Heilbronn, the cluster initiative TRANSFORMOTIVE DIALOG, and the State of Baden-Württemberg. This conference offers a unique platform to discuss the role of clusters in regional and European innovation ecosystems.

What to Expect:

✔ Gain valuable insights into the latest developments in European cluster policies and their impact on future EU policies.
✔ Engage in discussions with experts on innovation, sustainability, and resilience in key industries such as automotive, mechanical engineering, aerospace, robotics, artificial intelligence, and hydrogen technology.
✔ Take advantage of networking opportunities with leading professionals from business, academia, and policy sectors.

Join Us!
If you would like to participate, please register here: Clusters Meet Regions - Heilbronn, Germany | European Cluster Collaboration Platform
 

We look forward to seeing you there!