16 millioner til fireårig plastsatsing på NTNU

The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund supports NTNU with NOK 16 million distributed over four years to work on making plastic more circular, and the project has been named "Circular Plastics." The funds will, among other things, finance summer jobs and internships at companies that want to solve plastic issues.

– We find it incredibly exciting to contribute to increasing NTNU's focus on plastic issues. The funds will help ensure that young, smart minds are inspired to tackle the business sector's challenges regarding plastic and that they are well prepared to work with sustainable solutions when they enter the workforce, says Cecilie Lind, CEO of The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund.

Collaboration with Industry

NTNU will, among other things, use Experts in Teamwork (EiT) to expose students to challenges and opportunities related to plastics – in collaboration with industry and public administration. EiT is a compulsory course for all master's students at NTNU. Here, students are divided into interdisciplinary teams of 5-6 members, where 5-6 teams form a "village" working on a concrete theme one full day a week for a whole semester.

– Plastic is complex, and environmental issues must be solved by both reducing usage, finding alternative materials, increasing recyclability, developing better sorting and recycling technology, collecting misplaced plastic, and preventing new littering. NTNU will connect students with companies in our network that possess expertise and resources, while also connecting the industry with new knowledge and ideas. Here, students and industry will work closely together, says Lind.

NTNU works with "Knowledge for a Better World" and has "Sustainability" as a thematic priority area for research.

– We facilitate collaboration across different study directions and departments, which is very relevant for issues related to plastics. We also work internationally in "Action Ocean Plastic Waste." Through interdisciplinary collaboration and closer interaction with industry and public administration, we hope to encourage more students to develop new, sustainable solutions for plastics, says Helge Brattebø, professor and head of NTNU Sustainability.

Master's Thesis on the Topic of Plastics

"Circular Plastics" will also facilitate students to follow up on the results from EiT through a summer job, project assignment in the fall semester, master's thesis in the spring, and new summer job or internship to ensure that new ideas are practiced.

– "Circular Plastics" starts immediately. We hope that at least 30 students in each cohort will work on plastic problems and that new ideas and knowledge will be adopted by companies and public administration. We hope NTNU students are motivated to take their part of the challenge, says Lind.