European Circular Economy Week: Insubria’s Commitment to Education and Research, with Edu4PlasticCircular as an Example

On the occasion of European Circular Economy Week, taking place from 26 to 31 October, the University of Insubria is highlighting education and research initiatives that promote the responsible use of resources, waste reduction and the development of innovative solutions for environmental sustainability. These include the European project Edu4PlasticCircular, which focuses on sustainable plastic management and complements research activities addressing the issue from different perspectives.

Sustainability is a cross-cutting dimension of the University’s activities, encompassing research, education and collaboration with the local community. As Professor Martinoli, the University of Insubria’s Delegate for Sustainability, points out, the transition towards more sustainable models requires an approach that integrates scientific knowledge, environmental awareness and the development of practical solutions.

Edu4PlasticCircular: Education and International Cooperation

One of the initiatives contributing to this commitment is Edu4PlasticCircular (microplastics.today), an international project co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, which concludes in October 2026. At the University of Insubria, scientific responsibility for the project’s activities lies with Professor Elena Cristina Rada.

Coordinated by Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara, the project brings together six European partners and aims to strengthen higher and vocational education by developing innovative educational programmes focused on the responsible management of plastic, the prevention of litter leakage and the fight against microplastic pollution.

The objective is to develop skills and environmental awareness while promoting more efficient resource use, material reuse and recycling. The approach considers the entire life cycle of plastic, from design and production to consumption and waste management.

The international dimension has been an important feature of the project, with opportunities for discussion and collaboration involving organisations, institutions and bodies, including those outside the European Union. Meetings and exchanges have encouraged the sharing of knowledge and best practices across different geographical and cultural contexts. The project is also featured on the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, promoted by the European Commission, in the education section.

From Ecosystem Studies to Material Recovery

Alongside education, research at the University of Insubria addresses plastic pollution and resource circularity through projects with different objectives and methodologies.

One example is AWARE – Assessing plastic as a neW component of Aquatic ecosystems in the anthRopocenE, a project launched in November 2025 and funded with €1.3 million by the Italian Science Fund of the Ministry of University and Research. Coordinated by Gilberto Binda, it investigates the effects of plastic on freshwater ecosystems, with a particular focus on rivers and lakes and on interactions between plastic surfaces and microbial communities.

Another approach focuses on material recovery. Research conducted by Elena Rosini under the supervision of Loredano Pollegioni has developed a biotechnological process capable of converting PET from plastic bottles into pure amino acids, exploring new recovery opportunities through enzymatic processes.

Another initiative is the project Turning Rubbish Into biobased materials: a sustainable CHain for the full valorization of organic waste, which concluded in 2024 and was funded by Fondazione Cariplo. The project investigated a value chain for the recovery of organic waste using black soldier fly larvae, with the aim of producing biomaterials, including bioplastics, and other bio-based materials.

Education, research and interdisciplinary collaboration therefore represent complementary approaches through which the University of Insubria contributes to promoting a culture of sustainability and developing knowledge and solutions for a more circular economy.