Synthesizing Plastics: Helmholtz Expertise on Plastics Research and Policy Engagement

On January 24, 2025, Helmholtz SynCom hosted the kick-off of the project ‘Synthesizing Plastics: Helmholtz Expertise on Plastics Research and Policy Engagement (SPHERE)’. 

More than 20 researchers across the Helmholtz Earth & Environment Centres UFZ, FJZ, RIFS/GFZ, Hereon, AWI, and KIT, as well as from the HZDR and HZB participated and collaborated with project leaders Nick Wierckx (FZJ), Paul Einhäupl (RIFS), and Anran Luo (UFZ) to identify key stakeholders, discuss project objectives, and lay the working framework for SPHERE. The kick-off was designed to enable online participation, which saw a strong presence and contribution from several Helmholtz scientists.

The workshop opened with an introductory presentation by the project leads, sharing their motivation for focus on end-of-life plastics degradation and the proposed activities of the project. During the workshop, group dialogues enabled project participants to correlate their individual research with the plastics management cycle.

The afternoon session comprised a deeper dive into three major focus areas identified for SPHERE: i) Scientific Synthesis ii) Policy Areas, and iii) Stakeholders. In a World Café format, Helmholtz scientists analyzed priorities for plastics research, plastics management, and concurrent policies, and identified key stakeholders from science, industry, and politics for meaningful outreach and inclusion into the SPHERE project.   

The workshop concluded with a discussion of major insights from the sessions. Participants expressed interest in exploring various specific themes, some of them being plastics degradation and weathering, marine governance, standardized regulations for microplastics management, technology readiness, and stakeholder interactions, among others.

The kick-off wrapped up on an enthusiastic note of contribution from all attendees. The project leads and SynCom team anticipate steady progress of SPHERE in the upcoming months and look forward to the next workshop for more such dynamic science-policy syntheses.