GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Projects should demonstrate at large scale and validate innovative solutions that are quantitatively relevant and replicable under diverse economic, geographical and social conditions, and across sectors, including humanitarian response, through better design, alternative materials (including biobased and biodegradable), business models promoting reuse, recycling, upcycling, deposit systems, smart labelling, sensor-based sorting, etc. to tackle over-packaging and single-use plastics in consumer goods, food packaging and humanitarian relief items. Where the use of alternative materials is concerned, projects should address aspects to assure quality and safety of these new alternatives.

All solutions should be based on life-cycle approaches. Proposals should integrate life cycle assessment using the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method and relevant costing methods. Projects should choose a systemic approach to value chains and end users, including consumers as key actors.

Social innovation is recommended when the solution is at the socio-technical interface and requires social change, new social practices, social ownership or market uptake. Research on the above issues in the humanitarian context is also eligible under this topic.