This competition aims to establish the UK as a leading innovator in smart and sustainable plastic packaging for consumer products, dramatically reducing plastic waste by 2025.

Innovate UK (IUK) is investing in research and development (R&D) projects with the potential to significantly impact the UK's plastic reduction and address widely known problems related to plastic packaging for consumer products.

IUK has allocated up to £7 million to fund industrial research projects and experimental development projects in this competition. Grants are available from £200,000 to £4 million per project.

Projects can focus on one or more of the following:

  • The minimising or reduction of plastic packaging.
  • Packaging suitable for reuse, refill and online delivery.
  • Sustainable solutions for film and flexibles.
  • Food grade recycled polypropylene and polyethylene.
  • Behaviour change leading to less packaging waste or higher recycling rates.
  • Solutions which address the UK Plastics Pact target for problematic or unnecessary single use plastic packaging items.

The competition is open to single applicants and collaborations. UK registered businesses of any size can lead a project or work alone. To collaborate with the lead, the organisation must be a UK registered business, academic institution, charity, not-for-profit, public sector organisation, research organisation, or research and technology organisation (RTO). The deadline for applications is 8 September 2021 (11:00 BST).

For more information, read the general guidance for applicants.