Inter Pipeline has partnered with The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and invested $10 million to research opportunities to reuse and recycle plastic in Canada.
The ten-year agreement, known as Plastics Research in Action (PRIA), represents the largest applied research partnership in NAIT’s history.
PRIA will draw on NAIT’s applied research expertise in the area of process engineering, process automation and environmental sustainability. Student researchers will also be involved.
“I’m confident that the researchers at NAIT will find new opportunities to help keep plastics out of our environment and extend their useful life” said Christian Bayle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Inter Pipeline. “Today in Canada, nearly 80 per cent of all post-consumer plastics end up in landfills. Inter Pipeline believes that innovative thinking is critical to addressing this complex societal issue and is very pleased to do its part through this long-term funding commitment.”
Potential research projects include examining opportunities for plastic to be reused, thus retaining the value of the product, and supporting the ideals of a circular economy. Innovations could potentially help Canadians reuse and remanufacture materials, create new economic opportunities and benefit our environment. A portion of the applied research funding will also be dedicated to improving sustainable practices at Inter Pipeline’s Heartland Petrochemical Complex.
Heartland Complex is being built to compete in a global marketplace. The polypropylene manufacturing process at Inter Pipeline’s complex is estimated to generate 65 per cent less greenhouse gas (GHG) than the global average, and 35 per cent less GHG than the North American average.
For more information visit www.interpipeline.com
