
A hub for transformative chemical conversion strategies and enabling cross-cutting tools
Research

Thrust 1
Plastics Deconstruction to Value-Added Products

Thrust 2
Upcycling of PPW to Functional Polymers

Thrust 3
Developing Cross-Cutting Tools of PPW Valorization

Motivation
Globally, around 311 million tons of plastic products were manufactured in 2014. That number is estimated to double by 2034. And as our plastics production increases, so do the projected environmental impacts. This accumulation of plastic waste is squeezing our landfills, burdening our oceans, and contaminating our soils and groundwater with dangerous byproducts. Less than 10% of the United States’ (U.S.) polymer plastic waste (PPW) is actually collected for recycling.
Our Vision
The Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI) seizes the unique opportunity to integrate a data- and systems-driven approach with molecular-level understanding, synthesis of novel, multiscale catalytic materials, new processing schemes, and functionalization approaches toward new polymers to reconstruct the current PPW paradigm to positively impact the U.S. and global economy via efficient and environmentally-benign pathways. CPI integrates expertise from multiple domains to position itself uniquely in the world to perform science that would otherwise not be possible.
News

The Sustainability Seminar Series: Julie Rorrer, Ph.D.
Julie Rorrer, Ph.D. I University of Washington – Seattle

Outstanding achievements | UDaily Feature
Wilfred Chen, LaShanda Korley, and Mary Watson join the 2023 class of ACS Fellows

Jeffery Byers
Jeffery Byers I Boston College

The chemistry of making molecules | UDaily Feature
Mary Watson (UD) selected as the 2023 recipient of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Catalysis Lectureship
Partners



