53212ANTHROPOCENE MININGClosedFeasibility StudiesISCFWe live in the 'anthropocene age'. This is the epoch where our use of technology and resources has left an indelible mark on the composition, surface and environment of our planet. The plastics once seen as indispensable for modern life are now regarded as a curse of the Anthropocene age. The current life cycle management of plastics causes a host of environmental issues. Despite numerous initiatives and campaigns plastic re-cycling rates are low (typically <30%) and the bulk of this 'modern miracle' material (\>60%) is burnt or sent to landfill, generating millions of tonnes of CO2, potentially hazardous microplastics or global environmental pollution. Consumer product packaging is one of the largest components of the problem. A wide variety of materials, material formats and combination of plastics all contribute to a systemic and fundamental re-cycling problem. Society has struggled to develop commercially viable solutions for effective recovery and re-use of the bulk of plastics. As a result the default state is a series of efforts to camouflage the problem by burning or burying the evidence. Anthropocene mining could provide a solution to these issues. A number of companies have developed partial technical solutions for dealing with plastics. Evolve Packaging and Cambond have shown that an efficient, commercially viable, circular economy in mined post-consumer plastics is possible. The mining project aims to identify circular economy partners and demonstrate that: Post consumer waste plastic can be processed effectively at scale Mining of plastic waste can produce viable feedstock materials Anthropocene feedstocks can be used to make consumer products These products can meet consumer needs for plastic products Products from mined plastics can be re-cycled creating a circular economy in plastics _The ability to turn post-consumer plastic waste into products would provide a potent commercial rationale for investing in and scaling new supply chains for manufacturing low carbon, re-cycled plastic products._ This project will identify the materials, technology and supply eco-system required to deliver a scalable environmental and commercially acceptable solution to the plastics problem. Our solution develops UK expertise in dealing with the plastics problem and provides the UK with an alternative to virgin oil derived plastics. The UK could develop an advanced level of expertise and technology in post-consumer plastics processing and manufacturing capacity whilst reducing the carbon footprint of the end products. UK leadership in this area would generate valuable trading and technology transfer business opportunities.