Funded Projects 2014-2020
Project BCT
| Project Acronym | BCT |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Blue Circular Tech |
Summary
Due to the ongoing degradation of ocean health caused by emissions of waste plastics, marine plastic pollution is high on the global agenda where targets to abolish marine litter feature in international policy frameworks such as the Ocean Decade and the SDGs. Though figures vary, it is clear that a large proportion of marine plastic is composed of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFGs). Achieving these targets will require a systemic shift from linear to circular value chains for plastic, and a shift in the current perception of single-use or discarded plastics from waste to resource among businesses, consumers, and communities.
Another impetus comes from the incoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for fishing gear (2024) and emerging CEN standards for the design of gear (also 2024) which will have major implications for gear design, manufacture, marketing, and disposal or reuse.
Following the NPA projects Circular Ocean (2016 Regiostars Public Choice Award winner) and Blue Circular Economy (BCE) (2020 Regiostars Awards finalist), there is a continued need to engage SMEs and other stakeholders in the marine sector to develop solutions for ALDFGs while also generating new opportunities in the circular economy.
Objectives
Using lessons from NPA projects Circular Ocean, Blue Circular Economy and other initiatives, BCT will seek to accelerate the ability of peripheral communities and SMEs to create these solutions.
BCT will connect SMEs interested in generating resources from waste gear, and give them greater insight into emerging technologies, upcycling opportunities, and product development strategies including product sustainability narratives centred on the circular economy.
Drawing on the expert connections developed during Circular Ocean and BCE, the BCT project will also inform and engage SMEs, marine stakeholders, and marine communities about the relevant legislation and policies which are taking shape around gear design, EPR, and national and transnational circular economy initiatives.
Lead Partner
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norway
Siv Marina Grimstad
phone 004770161263
e-mail: sika@ntnu.no
Partners
- Arctic Technology Centre – Technical University of Denmark
Greenland - North Highland College UHI
Scotland - University for the Creative Arts
England - Western Development Commission
Ireland
Project Info
| Theme Environmental protection, climate change, pollution (soil, water, air), waste management |
| Priority 2 Entrepreneurship |
| Objective 2.2 Greater market reach |
| Project duration 01-01-22 to 30-06-22 |
| Total budget 59 925 EUR |
| NPA co-financing 35 952 EUR |
| Target groups business support organisation General public higher education and research interest groups including NGOs regional public authority sectoral agency enterprise, including SME |
| Joint Secretariat Desk Officer Christopher Parker |