CREATE
The network for more renewable raw materials
in the plastics industry
The three-year term of the CREATE network project, funded by the BMWK with €1.46 million, will begin in February 2025.
Whether plastics themselves, their fillers, or additives, they all have one thing in common: they are currently produced almost entirely from finite, fossil-based raw materials. Although the market for recycled materials is growing, and with it technology development and research, recycling alone will never be able to fully meet the ever-growing demand for plastic applications. In order to reduce dependence on fossil resources and, in most cases, significantly reduce environmental impact, the use of renewable raw materials is essential.
The possible applications range from bio-based “drop-in” solutions for matrix materials and additives to biotechnologically synthesized plastics and the direct use of natural polymers or biogenic fillers. Despite the multitude of possibilities, the number of products on the market is manageable. The reasons often cited for this are challenges in technical implementation or a lack of market potential due to strong cost pressure from directly competing conventional polymers.
Ready to CREATE?
Would you like to join the network for renewable raw materials in the plastics industry?
Then register now and benefit from knowledge about the bioeconomy and sustainability.
Join today
The future of the plastics industry
is clearly mapped out:
Sustainability and circular economy
are at the heart of what we do.
Supported by:
CREATE Symposium – Plastics in the Age of the Bioeconomy
2025-11-10 | Würzburg
With around 100 guests expected, the CREATE Symposium will take place for the first time on November 10, 2025. Experts and interested parties from all areas of bio-based plastics value creation will meet at the SKZ in Würzburg to learn about current trends and innovations, discuss ideas, and network. The program is packed with exciting presentations and discussions, prominent guests, and plenty of opportunity for networking.
Show agenda
After a tour of the SKZ premises, the kick-off of the expert forums will take place in the afternoon. Here you will have the opportunity to delve deeper into two of the five expert forums that are particularly relevant to you and to participate interactively. You can find out exactly which topics will be covered in the registration form.
Register now
Venue
SKZ model factory
Friedrich-Bergius-Ring 21
97076 Würzburg
Venue
SKZ model factory
Friedrich-Bergius-Ring 21
97076 Würzburg
Ready to create impact!
The aim of CREATE is to overcome technical hurdles by connecting companies with relevant players from industry and research, and to highlight the opportunities that exist in the market for bio-based products. A broad portfolio of activities is planned to achieve this.
In addition to content such as news and upcoming events, a project website will also include a constantly growing information platform where current sustainability topics such as reporting requirements, the Supply Chain Act, and the life cycle assessment of bio-based products will be presented in an easily accessible format. In addition, there will be an impact assessment tool that can demonstrate the advantages of using biogenic carbon in plastic products. Furthermore, a technology platform will be set up to provide an overview of existing technologies and their maturity level, thus enabling better matchmaking.
Many problems can be tackled through exchange and knowledge transfer, but external factors can slow down progress. The task of the five expert forums is to highlight these obstacles, develop solutions, and pass them on to the right places where they will be heard as the voice of a strong community. Under scientific coordination, each forum focuses on one of the major topics. The companies themselves determine whether this involves the inconsistent consideration of bio-based products in greenhouse gas balances, obstructive regulations, or a lack of incentives.
A lack of processing expertise or insufficient knowledge of material properties can significantly delay the development of new processes. The necessary expertise is imparted in training courses developed specifically for CREATE – in the usual SKZ quality.
With network meetings, factory tours, workshops, and seminars—both online and in person—CREATE offers a wide range of opportunities for exchange. Networking is the key element that creates added value for companies through valuable, cross-industry contacts and without which it would not be possible to advance plastics in an economically and ecologically sustainable manner.
Bio-based business isn't just a good idea for the environment; it also brings economic opportunities. To show this, CREATE does market research to check out important market stuff like trends and what customers want. Then, they map out a business ecosystem, looking at the market to spot connections, gaps, and, in the end, opportunities.
While the availability of biomass is more than sufficient on a global scale, fluctuating supply and competing uses can lead to local shortages. In addition to prioritizing high-quality material use and the use of second-generation biomass, easy access to the raw materials for plastics can increase availability and utilization. To investigate this approach, the concept of a raw materials exchange is to be developed and refined in line with requirements.
Project profile
Project sponsor: VDI Technology Center
Project status: Started
Project duration: 3 years until January 2028
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