Circular Plastic: Utilising frontier technology and user-centred design to add value to plastic waste, facilitating entrepreneurship and employment

This cluster brings together five previously funded GCRF projects which aim to tackle the ever-growing challenge of managing plastic waste in underfunded DAC Low Middle Income Countries (LMICs) using technologies such as 3D Printing. 3D printing has been recognised as a leading frontier technology which should be utilised within international development by the UK Department for International Development, UNICEF and the United Nations (Ramalingam et al., 2016; UN, 2018). Currently, the technology is at a 'tipping point', where it is becoming a feasible manufacturing technique and is considered to be the cornerstone of the next industrial revolution (Rauch, Dallasega and Matt, 2016). This game-changing technology is expected to have a substantial impact in LMICs. The project utilises this technology and local plastic waste as the material used in the 3D printers to create new products. It is fundamentally important to develop solutions to the problems caused by plastic waste, especially in LMICs which have poor infrastructure and inadequate waste management systems (Plastics Europe, 2018). It is also critical that frontier technologies (3D printing) are developed and their potential explored in LMICs as they provide a method to leapfrog traditional manufacturing, which is highly capitally intensive and has the ability to create new businesses and support wealth generation.

This new network enables researchers to develop two network hubs in Rwanda and Nigeria which will convert plastic bottles into filament for 3D printing which not only significantly adds value to the plastic waste, but also enables the creation of new products (such as homeware, prosthetics, medical components) and new enterprises and businesses. This project will, therefore; support the synthesis of current technology development, create twelve product concepts with local communities and help develop business models. This knowledge will be disseminated during a design workshop at each hub, developing new entrepreneurship skills and a legacy online resource which will enable other hubs to be started in DAC countries.

The project outcomes will be achieved through the following work-packages:

WP1 - Synthesis current technology research to understand the process (De Montfort University)
WP2 - Create two new network hubs in DAC countries to understand the potential of the technology. (Aston University with support from NGO Tech for Trade)
WP3 - Translate design documentation into an accessible format (toolkit, video) which can be accessed around the world. (Aston University)
WP4 - Build design capability workshops to demonstrate the potential application of the technology and support entrepreneurship and employment (Loughborough University).

The outcomes of the project will be embodied in an interactive website, toolkit and video which has direct relevance for anyone wishing to develop a hub using this model and create employment (direct/indirect) that will ultimately contribute to the alleviation of poverty as identified in the UN2030 Agenda.

Once established it is envisaged that the network created will grow and conduct pioneering research into solutions to plastic waste management and utilise frontier technology in GCRF funded regions.

The two network hubs created during the project are in underfunded GCRF regions (Rwanda and Nigeria) and will acquire enhanced knowledge of the opportunities and challenges relating to developing valuable products from plastic waste. Embodied as project case studies these hubs will demonstrate the potential for frontier technologies to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, this knowledge will be rolled-out to an international audience in DAC countries through the website, toolkit and video. In addition, local design workshops will be held at the hubs and have been identified as a key part of the project as it enables the transfer of knowledge from the UK and well funded GCRF regions to those less funded. The design workshop will focus on employment and wealth creation for the local community utilising the technology and invite participation from leading local representatives such as government, academia, industry, design, engineering, craft, business and staff from key international charities operating in the country.

By nature, the initial hubs created in the project will have limited reach. For this reason, it is envisaged that they will act as regional hubs for follow-on funding with spokes being developed in neighbouring countries and communities. To support this, the resources created will be globally accessed via the internet and capacity to enable new startups beyond the completion of the funding, global dissemination will be facilitated and interest maintained for stakeholders wishing to:
- Establish their own hub in and associated manufacturing enterprise in DAC countries.
- Capitalise on the design-driven approach to enterprise.

The project outcomes will, therefore, be promoted in each of the hubs and then the web resource through the UN Innovation Network (https://www.uninnovation.network/), UK Government Frontier Technology Livestreaming (https://www.gov.uk/international-development-funding/technology-provider-window-for-frontier-technology-livestreaming) and Makernet Alliance (https://makernetalliance.org/new/) network, these significant networks will maximise global reach of the project and will enable exponential growth of the research objectives.

Specific outcomes to facilitate impact will be:

- Interactive website with video and booklet pdf download as a knowledge transfer resource. The key elements of the website will be the synthesise of current technology and case studies of the new hubs which have been established. The project video will support this and help stakeholders understand challenges/opportunities have been identified through the project.

- 200 printed project booklets encompassing key content from the website, to be distributed to future hubs and spokes in DAC countries.

- Design workshop events in each of the hubs Rwanda and Nigeria supported by the PI/CIs with local industry engagement

- Two academic journal papers (Design Studies and Additive Manufacturing)