Overview

Background

The Government of Canada has made reducing plastic pollution and its impacts a priority. Building on the Oceans Plastics Charter, the 2018 Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste takes a circular economy and lifecycle approach to plastics and provides a framework for action in Canada.

In November 2018, governments at all levels across Canada adopted the Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste to implement the Strategy. The Action Plan consists of two phases and defines tangible actions and clear timelines to better mitigate plastic waste and pollution in Canada.

Phase 1 of the Action Plan (2019) identifies actions aimed at enhancing the circularity of plastics within the economy and instigating systemic changes necessary for reducing plastic waste. Phase 2 (2020) offers strategies to reduce plastic pollution, foster awareness, bolster science and take global action.

To support a role for science in achieving the goals of the Strategy, the federal government also developed Canada’s Plastics Science Agenda (CaPSA). CaPSA identifies priority research areas to inform research investments for detecting plastics in the environment; understanding and mitigating potential impacts to wildlife, human health and the environment; and advancing sustainable plastic production, recycling and recovery.

Informed by CaPSA and the Science assessment of plastic pollution, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) are collaborating to support research that will increase scientific knowledge to achieve Canada’s zero plastic waste targets (outlined in the Strategy and the Ocean Plastics Charter) and inform the advancement of plastics science policy and regulatory measures.

This call focuses on research that advances the science around plastic designs and alternatives, the sustainable use of plastics, and plastic waste diversion and recovery. This call will also build on previous research to detect and characterize plastics in the environment and the exposure and effects of plastics on wildlife and human health.

You are encouraged to collaborate with knowledge users (such as government policymakers, stewardship councils, Indigenous communities or organizations, etc.) to support knowledge mobilization. You are also strongly encouraged to bring together inter- or multi-disciplinary expertise within networked project teams (e.g., health researchers to investigate the impacts of plastics on humans, chemists to study plastic-food interactions, or economists to examine conventional versus alternative plastics, etc.).

Research objectives

Generating new knowledge on plastics science and building on existing research created under previous programs, for example, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Plastics Science for a Cleaner Future.

The proposed research project must address at least one of the following CaPSA themes:

Theme 1: Detection, quantification and characterization of plastics in the environment

1. 1. Studies that generate new or build on the existing body of scientific research from Theme 1:

Where research was previously undertaken to strengthen the science concerning Theme 1, focused research that complements and furthers this knowledge is encouraged. For example, alignment of methodologies and comparability of data for identifying and assessing the toxicity of plastics; enhanced methods to monitor and detect different types of macroplastics, microplastics and nanoplastics.

Theme 2: Impacts on Wildlife, Human Health and the Environment

1. 1. Advancing scientific knowledge of the current research under Theme 2:

Research that complements and furthers knowledge about the impacts of plastics on wildlife, human health and/or the environment in various ecosystems (e.g., terrestrial) and/or compartments (e.g., air); risk assessment frameworks on the impacts of plastics and plastic additives on key indictor/receptor species; risks from plastic particles and chemicals, etc.

Theme 3: Plastic Design and Alternatives

1. 1. Investigating plastic designs and alternatives from sustainably sourced materials that are also less harmful/toxic to the environment and humans:

      Research that aims to better understand the potential environmental impacts of alternatives to conventional plastics. For example, improving our understanding of biodegradation and developing appropriate testing methods; exploring and assessing the entire life cycle of a broader range of bio-based materials, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal; and assessing potential scenarios and suitability of applications of bioplastics in various sectors, including the innovation and use of second and third generation feedstocks.

1. Improving end-of-life options, including greater value retention (e.g., reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling and composting) to lessen environmental impacts, reduce waste and enable circularity:

   Research that aims to better understand and improve end-of-life value retention prospects of plastics and alternatives through design. For example, improving value retention (remanufacture, refurbishment) outcomes for plastics; establishing a plastics classification system that improves retention prospects.

Theme 4: Sustainable Use of Plastics

1. Contributing knowledge to inter-disciplinary sustainability science on the interactions affecting the use, needs and behaviours concerning plastics and the impacts on humans and the environment:

   Research that aims to generate knowledge about the inter-disciplinary impacts of plastics, behavioural insights, as well as the challenge of sustainability, to meet the needs of present and future generations to maximize societal benefits, including the social, economic, health, and environmental factors, while minimizing harm. For example, behavioural insights research on the use of plastics, plastic alternatives, or reducing plastic use, etc.; research that spans multiple, integrated disciplines such as, but not limited to, behavioural science, food science, human health, and plastics science, to investigate the impacts of plastic packaging on bacteria growth and foodborne illnesses.

Theme 5: Waste Diversion and Recovery

1. 1. Examining the supplementary or cumulative impacts of recycled/reusable plastics:

      Research that addresses the effects/impacts of recycled and reusable plastics and the potential harms via exposure to these plastics. For example, studies about the toxicity/harms of recycled plastics and the risks from microplastics, additives, or contaminants under varying conditions (e.g., hot, cold, acidic, etc.).

1. Generating new knowledge and improving techniques on the removal of plastics from various environmental compartments:

   Research that aims to understand, assess and improve the removal of nanoplastics and microplastics from the environment (soil, water, air). For example, microplastic removal during wastewater treatment; improving our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of microplastics biodegradation in the environment.

Research security

To ensure that the Canadian research ecosystem is as open as possible and as safeguarded as necessary, the Government of Canada has introduced the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy) and the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP).

For more information about research security at the granting agencies, refer to the Tri-agency Guidance on Research Security.

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern

The STRAC Policy addresses risks related to Sensitive Technology Research Areas performed with research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canada’s national security. The STRAC Policy applies to this funding opportunity.

At the Step 2 – Full application stage, applicants must identify whether the grant application aims to advance a sensitive technology research area. If so, the submission of attestation forms will be required from researchers with named roles (applicants, co-applicants and collaborators) to certify that they are not currently affiliated with, nor are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a Named Research Organization (NRO).

The Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy provides more information on applicable procedures and requirements, including new responsibilities of researchers and the responsibilities of institutions.

National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships

As NSERC’s funding will be provided via an NSERC Alliance type grant, Canada’s National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships apply to NSERC-funded applications that involve one or more partner organizations from the private sector, including when they participate alongside other partner organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors. These guidelines provide a framework through which researchers, research institutions and Canada’s granting agencies can undertake consistent, risk-targeted due diligence to identify and mitigate potential national security risks linked to research partnerships.

For such partnerships, you and your post-secondary institution are required to complete a risk assessment form for your research project and submit it as an integral part of your application.

If your risk assessment form identifies risks related to data that will be mitigated — in part or in whole — by your data management plan (DMP), the Risk Mitigation Plan section of your risk assessment form must also describe how your DMP will address those data-related risks.

Who can apply?

If you are a Canadian university researcher who is eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers. However, please note that only one application per researcher will be accepted under the call (as either applicant or co-applicant).

College faculty can participate as co-applicants.

Partnering organizations

If required, you may involve partnering organizations in your project. Your partner organizations can be from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. However, for the purposes of this funding call, foreign companies will not be accepted.

You may involve whichever partner organizations you need to achieve your research goals and successfully mobilize your research results to achieve the desired impact and benefits for Canada. Cash contributions are not required. However, each partner organization must actively play a role in the project and support it through in-kind contributions. Such involvement must be achieved by doing at least one of the following:

• Playing an active role in the project’s research activities
• Using the project’s research results to help achieve its desired outcomes
• Playing an active role in translating or mobilizing knowledge to ensure that the research results have an impact and benefit for Canada.

In reviewing your application, NSERC and ECCC will assess the relevance of each partner organization, their capacity to translate, mobilize and/or apply the research results to achieve the intended outcomes, and the value of their proposed in-kind contributions. ECCC will prioritize funding to projects that most clearly fulfill the objectives of the funding call.

All partner organizations are responsible for complying with NSERC policies and procedures, and with other Canadian laws, regulations, standards or policies that apply to the collaborative research activities outlined in the proposal.

The applicant will ask partners to participate in the application by completing a partner organization form (see the instructions). In addition, at NSERC’s request, a partner organization may be asked to provide supplemental information that describes the organization and enables NSERC to determine whether the partner organization is eligible.

The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships apply to NSERC grant applications involving one or more partner organizations from the private sector, including when they participate alongside other partner organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors. For such partnerships, you and your post-secondary institution are required to complete a risk assessment form for your research project and submit it as an integral part of your Alliance application.

Refer to How to apply and the instructions for completing a grant for further information.

Research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities

NSERC and ECCC are committed to supporting Indigenous research. NSERC defines Indigenous research as research in any field or discipline related to the natural sciences and engineering that is conducted by, grounded in, or meaningfully engaged with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

We encourage you to consider the relevant concepts, principles and protocols for any research involving Indigenous People and communities, which are outlined in the following documents:

• The Tri-agency’s strategic plan, Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada, which identifies strategic directions guided by the following key principles of self-determination, decolonization of research, accountability and equitable access
• Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS 2) – Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada
• SSHRC’s definition of Indigenous research
• Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act

Collaborating outside the natural sciences and engineering

Developing and implementing policies or directly applying your research results may depend on socio-economic or other requirements, as well as scientific understanding beyond the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). You are encouraged to collaborate with academic researchers in fields other than the NSE. Such researchers may be co-applicants for this call if they meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria for faculty. Research costs for these collaborations can represent up to 30% of the total project costs and must be specifically identified in the project budget justification.

Eligible expenses

You can include only NSERC-eligible direct costs of research in your project budget, such as:

• Salary support for research trainees (undergraduates, graduates and postdoctoral fellows) to perform research and related training
• Salary support for technicians and research professional personnel
• Materials and supplies
• Activities that support collaborations and knowledge mobilization related to the project
• Activities to develop and grow the research collaborations with the partner organizations

Refer to the guidelines on the use of grant funds in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration.

You can also include the costs of equipment, provided that the equipment is:

• essential to achieving the objectives of the research project
• incremental to the equipment already available at the university or at the partner organization’s location

If your total expected equipment cost (including operation and maintenance) exceeds $200,000 over your project’s duration, then you should apply for an alternate source of funding, such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund.

For projects involving multiple partner organizations and/or universities, you may also include project management costs, up to 10% of the total direct research costs (see Guidelines for research partnerships programs project management expenses).

Please note that funding recipients could be asked to participate in ECCC’s Plastics Science Symposium in Ottawa, ON, and should build travel costs into their proposal.

How to apply

Applicants must begin by submitting a letter of intent (LOI) before the deadline. All invited applicants will then complete a full application to be submitted before the full application deadline.

Step 1 – Letter of intent

The principal applicant must submit a letter of intent (LOI) to NSERC via NSERC’s online system using the LOI template by May 15, 2025, before 8:00 p.m. (ET). All documents must follow the NSERC online presentation and attachment standards.

The NSERC eligibility criteria for faculty apply. The eligibility of the applicant and co-applicants will be reviewed internally by NSERC.

The LOI template must not exceed five pages, excluding references, and must describe the following:

• The main research objectives, theme(s) and expected outcomes
• How the research fits within the program and research objectives and theme(s)
• The novelty of the project and main concepts and approaches
• Members of the team, their expertise and expected contributions
• An approximate budget request, by project year
• Key elements of a proposed knowledge mobilization plan and key elements of a proposed data management plan
• Relevance to advancing research areas of Canada’s Plastics Science Agenda
• Relevance of the project to Canada and any project partners

Note: Attach the completed LOI template under the section Form 101 – Proposal.

In addition to a completed LOI template, applicants and co-applicants must provide the following documents and information to NSERC via the online system:

• A personal data form with CCV attachment (NSERC – Form 100A) for the applicant and all co-applicants.

Instructions for submitting documents and information to NSERC:

• Log in to NSERC’s online system and select Form 101 – Grant from the drop-down menu
• Select Research partnerships programs, then Alliance grants
• For the Proposal type field, select Letter of Intent
• For the Type of call field, select [ECCC – Plastics] from the drop-down menu
• Complete the sections of Form 101 for the letter of intent (LOI)

Step 2 – Full application (by invitation only)

Based on the review of the LOI, applicants may be invited to proceed with a full application. NSERC will send a letter of invitation to applicants, and only applications from those who have been invited to submit will be accepted.

The letter of invitation will provide instructions on how to apply to this call which will fall under the Alliance grants program. Full applications must be submitted via NSERC’s online system.

Applications from invited applicants will be accepted at any time until September 18, 2025, before 8:00 p.m. (ET).

A complete application includes:

• An application for a grant (Form 101)
• A personal data form with common CV attachment (Form 100A) for each applicant and co-applicant
• A proposal template
• A biographical sketch for each collaborator (maximum of 2 pages)
• Partner organization(s) and other related forms (as required)
• STRAC attestation form (as required)
• Risk assessment form (as required)
• A data management plan (Please see the following document for information on how to prepare your data management plan)

Instructions for submitting documents and information to NSERC:

• Log in to NSERC’s online system
• Select the appropriate Form 101 from your portfolio (Form 101 – ECCC – Plastics, created at the LOI stage)
• Following the instructions for completing a grant application, fill out the proposal template (maximum 12 pages, excluding references) and complete the other sections of your application
• In the case where your application aims to advance a listed sensitive technology research area, submit a completed STRAC attestation form for each researcher with a named role (i.e., the applicant, the co-applicants and the collaborators)
• In the case where your application involves one or more partner organizations from the private sector, including when these organizations participate alongside other organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors, complete the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Form
• Data management plan: Upload the data management plan as a PDF attachment to the Other documents section of the Form 101

Submit your completed application and supporting documents, including the personal data form with CCV attachment (NSERC Form 100A) for the applicant and all co-applicants, through NSERC’s online system. If applicable, your partner organization’s contact person will be invited through the online system to provide information about the organization following the partner organization instructions.

By submitting your application, you and your co-applicants (when applicable) agree to the Terms and conditions of applying for applicants.

By participating in your application, your partner organizations agree to the terms and conditions of applying for partner organizations.

For submissions under this call, you agree that any information contained in your letter of intent (LOI) or full proposal will be shared with ECCC for purposes consistent with the program objectives.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

NSERC is acting on the evidence that achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise is essential to creating the excellent, innovative and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges. This principle informs the commitments described in the Tri-agency Statement on Equity, Diversity And Inclusion (EDI) and is aligned with the objectives of the Tri-agency EDI Action Plan.

Excellent research considers EDI both in the environment in which research takes place (forming a research team, student training) and in the research process itself. For Alliance grants, EDI considerations are currently evaluated in the training, mentorship and professional development opportunities for students and trainees. The aim is to remove barriers to the recruitment and promote full participation of individuals from underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of underrepresented groups as one way to enhance the excellence in research and training. For additional guidance, applicants should refer to Alliance grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan and the NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research.

Review

Letter of intent

NSERC will review the eligibility of the applicant and co-applicants and will undertake an administrative assessment to ensure that the letter of intent complies with all the requirements.

LOIs will be reviewed by a selection panel comprising representatives from ECCC, and possibly other federal departments, using the evaluation criteria (below). The LOIs will be evaluated against these criteria on a six-point scale: outstanding, excellent, very strong, strong, acceptable or inadequate. The results of the evaluation cannot be appealed. NSERC and ECCC will invite full applications for the most highly rated LOIs.

1. Relevance
   The proposal must support the objectives of this funding call. The LOI must explain how the proposed project will address one or more of the specific research objectives/themes, and how the project team can accomplish the objectives within the proposed budget. The LOI must also demonstrate how the project will help address gaps in current knowledge about plastic pollution, for example, as discussed in Canada’s Plastics Science Agenda and the Science assessment of plastic pollution.
2. Knowledge mobilization
   The proposal must demonstrate how knowledge and data will be managed, shared, actively communicated and disseminated by the research team and exploited by knowledge users, collaborators and/or stakeholders. The proposal must also address how the research team will link or build relationships with knowledge users so that new knowledge will support policy- and decision-making on zero plastic waste goals.

Full application

NSERC will screen all full applications to ensure they are complete and adhere to program requirements and objectives. NSERC will consider equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan as a screening criterion, and only those applications that meet this criterion will be retained for assessment by the selection committee. NSERC will also internally review the eligibility of the Canadian researchers, collaborators and any partners. If your full application does not meet all program requirements, it will be rejected. An evaluation committee composed of expert members from academia and non-academic organizations (such as industry, government or not-for-profit organizations) will review full applications. The selection committee will assess the applications according to the merit evaluation criteria and merit indicators (below). NSERC reserves the right to select the most appropriate review process. The results of the review cannot be appealed.

Merit evaluation criteria

The merit of your application is evaluated using the following five equally weighted criteria and sub-criteria. The proposal must address all the criteria and sub-criteria to be considered for funding.

Merit of the proposed activities

• The quality, originality and feasibility of the proposed activities will be assessed, as well as how new knowledge generated will impact the field of research.
• The project work plan must be clear, coherent and achievable. It must explain how the project team will function. The budget must be justified to support the proposed research activities, and its appropriateness will be evaluated.

Competence of the research team

• The research team must have all the expertise needed to address the defined objectives and complete the project successfully. The contributions of individuals to the research effort must be clear. Their expertise must be appropriate to the proposed project, the expertise of individual members of the team must be complementary, and their combined expertise must be sufficiently broad. Interdisciplinarity is strongly encouraged and will be highly regarded.

Relevance to Canada and outcomes

• The research activities should generate results that will further knowledge, contribute exploitable research results, provide benefits to Canada and stakeholders, as well as support the program objectives described above. Demonstrated policy relevancy will be highly regarded.

Knowledge mobilization and data management plans

• The proposal must include knowledge mobilization and data management plans that contain mechanisms to share new knowledge and data with knowledge users that include, and go beyond, journal publications (e.g. presenting at symposiums, workshops, webinars, etc.). Please see the following document Data management plan – Instructions for information on how to prepare your data management plan. Direct collaboration with knowledge users will be highly regarded. Consideration will be given to the researchers’ track record in transferring research results to a user sector.

Training

• Opportunities for enriched training experiences for research trainees (undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral fellows) to develop relevant research skills as well as professional skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship.
• Consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan (for guidance, consult the Equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan document) (assessed by NSERC staff).

Funding decision

NSERC uses established merit indicators to rate each evaluation sub-criterion/criterion. ECCC will select which projects it wishes to fund from the list of recommended projects.

Award

Receiving your funding and starting your project

Award letter, terms and conditions

If your application is approved for funding, you will receive an award letter, and you must adhere to the terms and conditions set out in it.

Please note that funding recipients could be asked to participate in ECCC’s Plastics Science Symposium in Ottawa, ON, and should build travel costs into their proposal.

Transfer of funds and start date

Your award letter will indicate the start date of your project. NSERC will normally transfer your grant funds to your university within 30 days of that start date.

Post-award

During your research project

Acknowledging NSERC and ECCC

You must acknowledge NSERC and ECCC support in any communications or presentations about the research supported by this grant.

Notifying NSERC about changes

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions of Award for more information. You must notify NSERC:

• If any of your co-applicants, collaborators or partner organizations leave the project
  • in this case, you should discuss with NSERC the impact on your ability to achieve the original goals of the project and whether the project may need to be amended.

• If new co-applicants or collaborators join the project
  • in this case, NSERC will advise on how to submit the necessary forms, including STRAC attestations (as required).
• If the nature of your research evolves such that activities supported by the grant would aim to advance a listed Sensitive Technology Research Area (see relevant FAQ)
  • in this case, NSERC will advise on how to submit STRAC attestation forms for researchers in named roles.

Reporting

You will be informed of reporting requirements and the corresponding schedule when you are notified of your award. NSERC and ECCC will strive to streamline their reporting requirements to lessen the burden on researchers.

Automatic one-year extension (no additional funding)

Following the initial period of your grant, NSERC will automatically extend your grant for one year to allow you to complete your planned activities. No additional funding is provided for this automatic one-year extension.