NTCP National Test Centre Circular Plastics

Test centre on a mission

The NTCP is a not-for-profit organisation and the first independent test centre with facilities on sorting and washing on industrial scale in Europe. In our facility in Heerenveen we conduct independent tests, challenging experiments, and research in order to contribute to closing the plastics value chain. While we work in a structured and data analytical way, we are pragmatic, which helps us provide our clients with advice that can easily be translated or applied into practice.

We keep our mission in mind with everything we do: 'Innovation and research to fully close the loop of the plastic value chain'. As an independent test and research centre we are accessible for every organisation and other relevant stakeholders within the circular plastic value chain. 

The timeline of the NTCP

Accelerate circular goals

The NTCP was established at the end of 2018 in order to accelerate the circular objectives for plastics recycling. The Dutch National Government, the province of Fryslân and the Dutch Packaging Waste Fund contributed to the actual realisation of the test centre and its facilities. With their strong ambition to accelerate the optimisation and innovation in the circular plastics value chain, these organisations acknowledged the urgency and need in the market for test and research capability on the relevant industrial scale. By facilitating the development of the NTCP they created an independent and accessible facility that encourages collaboration in the value chain.

With our test facility for the sorting and washing process of plastics on a pilot scale, the NTCP is the first test centre which is representative for large-scale industrial installations.  The practical tests and experiments with real  waste streams result in a continuous data collection that helps stakeholders from the chain to accelerate their circular objectives.

We have linked our own objectives to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. With our activities, we help our clients meet these Sustainable Development Goals: