Infrastructure overview

The SURPASS digital infrastructure is a user-friendly, open-access tool designed to empower innovators, especially SMEs, in designing the next generation of polymeric materials. It operationalises the Safe-, Sustainable-, and Recyclable-by-Design (SSRbD) framework, providing targeted guidance to help you balance performance, safety, environmental impact, and cost from the start of your innovation process.

Our platform is built on a "Guided Progression" principle, leading you through a four-stage workflow: Introduction, (Re)design, Assessments, and Results. Interactive features like the "Do It Yourself" (DIY) wizard and a unique Assessment Calculator translate complex scientific data into actionable guidance, helping you create truly sustainable plastics.

Purpose and Intentions

The SURPASS digital infrastructure is a centralized, knowledge-based web application designed to make the SSRbD framework practical and actionable for innovators. Its purpose is to provide a user-friendly platform that supports researchers, material scientists, and product designers in making informed, sustainable choices throughout their design processes. By integrating data, assessment tools, and guidance, the platform fosters the broader adoption of sustainable practices in the polymer industry.

Decision Tools and Assessment Overview

The platform integrates a suite of decision tools to guide users through the SSRbD process. At its core is a multi-tiered assessment structure that allows for flexibility in evaluating the safety, sustainability, and recyclability of materials. This includes:

  • A holistic early-stage assessment tool (Sustainable Plastic Framework) for initial screening.
  • An inventory of methods and tools for more detailed mid and late-stage assessments.
  • A unique scoring strategy that evaluates products based on safety, environmental impact, and socio-economic considerations, allowing for iterative feedback and refinement.

Optimisation of Reprocessing Technologies

A key part of SSRbD is designing for end-of-life. The SURPASS project focused on optimizing reprocessing technologies adapted to the new polymeric systems. For example, the development of a safer vitrimerization process for PU and epoxy composites enables 100% recyclability, and a new decontamination process was adapted for MNL films to allow to eliminate contaminant. Insights from this work are integrated into the platform's guidance to help users enhance recyclability and reduce material waste.

Final Challenges and Future Directions

The SURPASS digital infrastructure is built to be a lasting resource. The platform is designed to be fully aligned with the European Commission Digital Strategy (ECDS), incorporating principles like "digital by default," robust security measures, and strict GDPR compliance for data privacy. A crucial aspect of this is methodological transparency, ensuring that the assessment tools are not a "black box" and all results are traceable and understandable. The platform is planned to be maintained for at least five years post-project, with opportunities for future funding and exploitation being explored to ensure its long-term reliability and continuous updates.