UPSTREAM: Circular and Bio-Based Solutions for the Ultimate Prevention of Plastics in Rivers Integrated with Elimination And Monitoring Technologies.
Programa: HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEAN-01-04
Duration: 48 months, September 2023 – August 2027
Partners: Fundación Aitiip (Coordinator), Leitat Technological Center, VITO, Kemijski inštitut – National Institute of Chemistry (NIC), NOVAID FCT, UNSPMF-University of Novi Sad, University of the Aegean, Wasser 3.0 gGmbH, Van Remmen UV Technology, Tecnopackaging, EDEN Tech, Le Quere, Novamont, ZINNAE, Ecociudad Zaragoza S.A, Gruppo CAP, INEUVO LTD, University of Birmingham, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Think Ocean CIC, Daphne Water Solutions, Severn Trent.
More information: The UPSTREAM project addresses the targets of the Mission by overcoming challenges related to the monitoring, prevention, elimination, and valorisation of litter (L), plastics (P), and microplastics (MP), couple the technical demonstrations with analysis of circular (bio-based) value chains, environmental and economic sustainability assessments, and focuses efforts on knowledge co-creation and replication and stakeholders engagement at all levels – industry, government, and citizens.
UPSTEAM will demonstrate a suite of 14 solutions addressing pollution at every step in the water system (before wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), after WWTPs, and in the rivers themselves), connected to 7 rivers in 5 countries. Consequently, UPSTREAM will enable the co-creation of an extensive database of knowledge and sustainable business models with a focus on making information as widely accessible as possible.
The involvement of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) owners, industrial partners with existing supply chains, innovative SMEs, and a water cluster association will ensure exploitation of the project solutions, while €350k in cascade funding will enhance replication across Europe.
The UPSTREAM consortium will thus establish circular value chains with the potential to decrease plastic litter by 50% and MP pollution by 30%.
Co-Funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement no. 101112877. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This work was also co-funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee grant numbers 10082527, 10066959, 10089056, 10087702, and 10066963.
