Inventing tomorrow’s advanced materials through
integration of the chemical sciences.
The NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) integrates sustainability issues that focus on the science and technology of polymeric materials into research, education, and public outreach initiatives.
CSP News
Kalow named 2021 Sloan Research Fellow
Congratulations to CSP Investigator Julia Kalow named 2021 Sloan Research Fellow. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced 128 early-career scholars chosen... read more →
February 16, 2021
Hacking plastic production to promote sustainability
CSP Investigator Paul Dauenhauer was featured on PBS NewsHour for his work turning biomass — like wood and plants — to... read more →
January 26, 2021
“Meet a Scientist” Series features Stephanie Liffland and Teli Zografos
CSP researchers Stephanie Liffland and Teli Zografos collaborate with Minnesota 4-H and the University of Minnesota Extension Educators in Youth... read more →
January 22, 2021
New CSP research published in Macromolecules
CSP graduate student Charles McCutcheon from the Bates and Ellison Groups published research Crazing mechanism and physical aging of poly(lactide) toughened with poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(butylene... read more →
January 22, 2021
Turning plants into everyday products
CSP Investigator Paul Dauenhauer is featured in the University of Minnesota’s Winter 2021 Legacy magazine for his research of renewable... read more →
January 20, 2021
CSP research selected as Editor’s Choice in Green Chemistry
CSP researcher Guarav Kumar’s research Dehydra-decyclization of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran to pentadienes on boron-containing zeolites was selected as an Editor’s Choice article... read more →
January 19, 2021
Teaching Green Chemistry Through Sustainable Polymers
A new experiment developed by Investigator Jane Wissinger Exploring Divergent Green Reaction Media for the Copolymerization of Biobased Monomers in... read more →
December 29, 2020
Chris Ellison receives 2020 TechConnect Innovation Award
CSP Investigator Chris Ellison is among three researchers from the University of Minnesota’s College of Science & Engineering recently named... read more →
December 14, 2020
Taking Action to Solve the Challenge of Plastics
The CSP developed 4-H curriculum for grades 6-8 “Sustainable Polymers: Taking Action to Solve the Challenge of Plastics” was recently... read more →
December 10, 2020
Why do sustainable polymers matter?
Sustainable polymers aim to address the environmental challenges that are inherently associated with traditional (petroleum-based) plastics, while maintaining the outstanding properties these materials bring to our everyday lives.
Sustainable Polymers 101
Big Question: Can we make plastics sustainable?
video source: University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment and NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers
video source: University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment and NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).