PLASTICITY

PLASTICITY: Shaping the transitions to a resilient and circular plastic manufacturing system

Huang, Chloe (TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment)
Koch, Matthijs (TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment)
YU, Zhuo (TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment)
van Hal, Sophie (TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment)

Sepulveda Carmona, D.A. (mentor)
van der Veen, R.J. (mentor)
Van den Berghe, K.B.J. (mentor)
Dabrowski, M.M. (mentor)
Rocco, Roberto (mentor)

Delft University of Technology

Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Urbanism

AR2U086 R&D Studio – Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis

2022-04-06

Different government bodies, from the European Union down to the Port of Rotterdam Authority have implemented the policy goal to become circular by 2050 to minimize demand and dependence on finite resources. However, a circular economy - an economic model in which materials circulate in closed loops and waste is viewed as a resource - is vastly different from the current linear system of extraction, consumption and waste. The plastics industry that is currently present in the port of Rotterdam is one such industry where large amounts of raw material is being used and large amounts of waste generated. It is still far from circular. Thus, transitions in the industry itself and in our interaction with products are necessary. The question that arises is: how can the transition to circular plastic manufacturing in the Rotterdam maritime region contribute to a more sustainable, resilient and just economy?

Theory on transition management and socio-technical systems, analyses of spatial use and networks of the plastics industry in South Holland, and research on the developments in plastic manufacturing, has led to the understanding of the current networks and flows in the plastics industry. A subsequent analysis of stakeholders, policies and design options has led to a vision and strategy for the South Holland region, on how to shape a new circular plastics economy.

In the proposed strategy of Plasticity, (1) the strength of a strategic location in the port of Rotterdam is used to expand the renewable cycle of the bioplastics industry, and (2) by actively engaging citizens in reusing and recycling plastic products on a local level in the whole region, a technical circular cycle is enhanced in the whole province. Plastic is used as an example to demonstrate the contemporary issues around dependency on fossil material in the South Holland context, but similar principles regarding integrating the biological and technical cycle, facilitating space for innovation and growth of circular models, and engaging the whole socio-technical system in the transition process can be applied to other sectors and places. This expands the applicability of this vision and strategy beyond plastic.

circular maritime manufacturing
plastics manufacturing
circularity strategy
transition management
Port of Rotterdam

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Student theses

student report

© 2022 Chloe Huang, Matthijs Koch, Zhuo YU, Sophie van Hal