ZIM innovation network 2nd Life Sustainable product development and innovative secondary use of plastic products
The ZIM innovation network '2nd life' is driving a strong shift toward the future of the plastics industry. The focus lies on designing products from the outset so that they can be used longer, dismantled more easily and recycled in high quality at the end of their lifecycle.
Thus, 2nd life defines a new benchmark for quality: plastics must not only deliver performance and economic value but also be resource efficient and responsibly designed. Second life capability becomes a key characteristic of future ready products combining business success with ecological benefit. This approach is a clear commitment to long term responsibility. Decisions should remain viable over generations, conserve resources and create real value for the future.
The aim of the ZIM innovation network 2nd life
The aim of the project is to establish a cross-sector innovation network in which companies and research institutions work together to develop new approaches for a sustainable, circular plastics economy.
The industry faces increasing pressure to transform. Traditional linear value chains are reaching their limits, while regulations such as the European Green Deal, the EU Plastics Strategy and new circular economy requirements are raising expectations around sustainability and transparency. At the same time, customers and OEMs demand clear material traceability, the use of recyclates and demonstrable climate responsibility. 2nd life addresses these challenges and turns regulatory demands into innovation opportunities.
For small and medium sized enterprises in particular, the network provides direct access to research expertise, technologies and development partnerships. Joint work on new materials, designs and processes reduces risk, accelerates innovation and unlocks new market potential. The decisive factor is an early focus on product development: only when materials, construction and design are consistently aligned with circularity can a product truly achieve a “second life.”
By developing new second life capable products and improving existing applications, 2nd life lays the foundation for a modern, circular plastics economy. Already, 34 partners from Germany and Spain are strengthening their competitiveness in this international network and demonstrating how plastics can be designed responsibly and sustainably today and for future generations.
Vision of the network
The vision of the 2nd life innovation network is to establish a permanent technological and organizational platform that enables continuous knowledge exchange on sustainable, circular plastics solutions and actively drives the development of new second life capable products. The core of the network consists of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs, < 1,000 employees). These are specifically supported and complemented by research institutions and larger companies (> 1,000 employees) as associated partners. The network positions itself as a long term catalyst for a plastics industry that combines ecological responsibility, economic strength and societal future readiness.
A central part of this vision is to strengthen and expand cooperation among national and international partners far beyond the funding period. By continuously integrating new companies, research institutions and global stakeholders, the network enhances its collective innovation capacity and advances the transformation of the plastics sector through joint effort.
This collaborative environment not only supports the technical and product related advancement of circular solutions but also promotes the development of relationships, competencies and shared strategies. In doing so, 2nd life contributes to a holistic evolution of the plastics industry technologically, economically and socially.
The network deliberately goes beyond simply demonstrating environmental awareness. It creates tangible opportunities for partner companies to enhance their competitiveness, access new markets and anchor long term corporate responsibility in their business strategies. The strategic integration of circular economy principles, resource efficiency and second life concepts yields ecological benefits while enabling partners to respond to the rising demand for sustainable, transparent and ethically responsible products.
With this vision, 2nd life positions itself as a driver of a future oriented economic system. It strengthens the reputation of participating companies, secures their position in an increasingly demanding market and supports long term economic stability and sustainable business success. The network thus lays the foundation for rethinking plastics in a responsible and forward looking way for today and for generations to come.
All companies along the value chain from raw material generation to end-use applications are ideal participants in the 2nd life network. We bring together plastics processing companies, manufacturers of semi-finished products, recycling firms as well as developers of modular product concepts and new material systems. Complemented by research partners in materials science, recycling technology, product design and sustainability assessment, the network represents the entire value chain from product development to high-quality recycling.
Development Guidelines in 2nd Life
The development guidelines of the 2nd life innovation network form the strategic framework for consistently designing plastic products to be future-proof and recyclable.
Guideline I – Sustainable product development
The first guideline addresses the necessity of designing plastic products from the outset to be durable, modular, repairable and highly recyclable. This includes the selection of suitable materials as well as new design principles that enable flexible adaptation and reuse. Circularity, ease of disassembly and recycling oriented design are to be integrated into the earliest stages of product development. In addition, manufacturing processes must be resource efficient and capable of handling fluctuating qualities of recycled materials.
Guideline II – Secondary usage of existing Products
The second guideline focuses on products that are already on the market. At the end of their lifecycle, their materials should not be regarded as waste but as valuable resources that contribute to supply security in a circular economy. This includes the increased use of high quality secondary raw materials, intelligent materials that extend product lifetimes, and digital tools such as product related data and digital product passports. Advanced sorting and separation technologies— increasingly supported by AI—form a key technical foundation for returning existing products into high quality material streams.
Guideline III – Technologies and processes for circular product use
The third and final guideline addresses the practical implementation of circular approaches in the market. Modern technologies such as additive manufacturing are intended to unlock new upcycling potential by using recyclates as feedstock for new, customized products. At the same time, innovative business models such as Product as a Service aim to create incentives for designing products that are durable and easy to repair, as companies themselves benefit from efficient reuse. In addition, societal acceptance of second life products should be strengthened—for example through digital product stories that create transparency and emotional value.
Become a network partner!
- Are you an SME (<500 employees, <50 million euros annual turnover, <43 million euros annual balance sheet total) or an R&D institution (associated partner)?
- Do you have innovative ideas that you have not yet been able to implement?
- Do you want to have your innovations financed by non-repayable funding?
- Are you looking for partners to implement your ideas or to open up new markets?
- Do your technology components and your business orientation fit into our portfolio?
Then get funding!
We support the entire application process and the funding administration.
WHAT IS FUNDED?
The ZIM innovation networks funding pillar combines funding for network management services with the network's development projects. Other partners can also participate (e.g. research institutions, universities, large companies and other organisations such as associations).
What is a ZIM innovation network?
An innovation network refers to the merger of at least six SMEs and research and development institutions with the aim of jointly developing innovative products, processes or services and developing utilisation concepts. The goal is synergetic cooperation in one or more fields of technology, from research and development to the marketing of the R&D results. Within an innovation network, both the management of the network (ZIM-KN) and the activities for the development of R&D projects (ZIM-SOLO, ZIM-KOOP) are funded. The network is coordinated by network managers.
Network management – Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid
Network management is provided by KIMW Management GmbH (KIMW-M). It supports companies in developing new project ideas, identifying suitable funding programmes, and applying for and implementing joint research and development projects. The aim is to connect companies, tap into innovation potential, and specifically promote cooperation between industry and research.
Our many years of experience in network management are also reflected in the establishment of various networks. In the ZIM innovation networks of KIMW-M, companies and research institutions work together on joint research and development projects across different industries. Companies benefit from structured access to funding projects, new cooperation partners and the joint development of innovative technologies and products. In addition, the network management organises workshops and training courses for members.
Numerous research and development projects have emerged from the networks to date, resulting in new technologies, processes and products. Many of these developments have been successfully transferred into industrial applications and contribute to strengthening the innovation and competitiveness of the companies involved.
Network management is part of the Plastics Institute Lüdenscheid. The institute acts as a link and source of expertise between fundamental university research and industrial companies by developing market-oriented, pre-competitive innovations to market maturity within the framework of industrial research. The ‘Plastics Institute Lüdenscheid’ cluster is also a constantly growing, sustainability-oriented network funded exclusively by industry. The Plastics Institute Lüdenscheid has been awarded the Gold Label for Cluster Management Excellence for its professional cluster organisation – a Europe-wide recognised quality award for excellent cluster management.
This creates a powerful platform that supports companies in developing new technologies, products and processes and successfully bringing them to market.
Network structure – participating actors
Benefits and advantages for network partners
- Securing your innovative potential
- Easy access to funding and to national and international projects
- Exploiting synergies through joint development projects
- Increasing competitiveness
- Reduction of R&D costs
- Minimising individual development risks
- Network management takes on the formalities
- Support in accessing new markets
- Expansion and further development of innovation strategies beyond one's own nose
- Realisation of innovative ideas and projects that could not previously be implemented
SUBSIDISATION AND PROCEDURE
The 18-month phase 1 is followed by the funding phase 2, the duration and funding rates of which vary depending on the orientation of the network:
For international networks, phase 2 is scheduled to last 36 months. In this case, network management costs in phase 2 are funded at a rate of 80% in the first year, 60% in the second and 40% in the third year. The specific funding rates enable targeted support, adapted to the respective requirements of national and international projects.
Depending on the number of participants, the cost per participant for the second phase is expected to be around €2,500 per year.
Phase 1: 01/01/2026 – 30/06/2027
Phase 2: 01/07/2027 – 30/06/2030
CONTACT AND REFERENCES
Jan Tinz
Telephone +49 151 2143 6489
tinz@kimw.de
Ludger Wüller
Telephone +49 151 4073 1861
wueller@kimw.de
Pia Burandt
Telephone +49 160 6048 454
burandt@kimw.de
Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid
KIMW Management GmbH
Karolinenstraße 8
58507 Lüdenscheid
Deutschland
Tel: 0 23 51 - 1064 191
Fax: 0 23 51 - 1064 190
E-Mail: mail@kimw.de