Launch of the European ASTER project

Publication date: 28-01-2025

Polymeris commits to the circular economy of mountain activities thanks to the European ASTER project

This project, co-financed by the Interreg Alpine Space program, is coordinated by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and brings together 11 partners from 5 European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia) to tackle the environmental challenges associated with textile and plastic waste in Alpine regions.

ASTER, an essential project for sustainability and ecological transition in the Alps

At a time when France has just been chosen to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions, major environmental concerns are emerging. In line with European objectives and those linked to the hosting of this major sporting event, it is essential to support players in accelerating innovation and improving the circularity of textile products intended for mountain activities.

With global production of plastic waste reaching 353 million tonnes in 2019, the textile and plastics sectors, which are essential to Alpine economies, face major challenges:

Dependence on imported raw materials.
The environmental impact of local industrial activities.
The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and microplastic pollution.

ASTER's aim is to develop concrete solutions to reduce waste, while creating economic opportunities through circular and sustainable models, thanks to a call for projects that will support companies with prototypes to test or products to evaluate in terms of circularity. The project will also support the successful implementation and use of the traceability system based on the “Digital Product Passport”, which enables materials to be tracked and their origin proven.

Polymeris' role in ASTER

As a partner, POLYMERIS plays a key role in :

Analysis of existing practices: Study the legal, geographical and technical frameworks to better understand the obstacles and opportunities associated with waste management.
Development of circular innovations: Support the prototyping of solutions based on the 5R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Replace). This includes eco-design for mountain products and the exploration of new business models.
Transferring know-how and solutions: Disseminate sustainable practices and strengthen circular value chains in Alpine industries.