PLANETS M18 General Assembly @ IPC (21-23.04.2026, Oyonnax)

The PLANETS consortium gathered in Oyonnax from 21–23 April 2026 for its M18 General Assembly, hosted at the facilities of IPC. The meeting marked an important milestone for the project, bringing partners together to review progress achieved over recent months and align on the next phases of work. Additionally, we aligned for our first review meeting that will take place in July 2026. Additionally we had dedicated sessions for:

• Each one of the three case studies (surfactants flame retardants, and plasticizers)
• SSbD and decision support, 
• Education, communication & Co. to jointly brainstorm about how to guise industires to incorporate SSbD assessment and implementation into their processes, and
• Exploitation, including IP and KERs.

Located in what is widely known as the “plastics valley”, the Oyonnax region is home to a dense network of companies spanning the entire plastics value chain—from raw materials to advanced processing and recycling. This unique industrial ecosystem provided an ideal backdrop for discussions on innovation and sustainability within the sector.

A key highlight of the General Assembly was the opportunity to explore IPC’s facilities. Partners gained first-hand insight into cutting-edge developments in areas such as 3D printing, lab-on-chip technologies, recycling processes, and the decontamination of recycled plastic materials—core topics closely aligned with the PLANETS developments.

Beyond the technical sessions, the event also fostered strong collaboration and team spirit. The IPC team (special thanks to Raphaël, Loelia, and Catherine) extended a warm welcome to all participants, and showed the rest of the Consortium the best of the region’s culture and cuisine. Among the memorable moments was a “walking speed meeting” around Lake Nantua, offering a refreshing and informal setting for exchange and networking.

Overall, the General Assembly in Oyonnax proved to be both productive and inspiring, reinforcing collaboration among partners and setting a clear path forward for the months ahead.