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

New CSP research published in JACS
Postdoctoral researcher Yanay Popowski and graduate student Yiye Lu give an overview of their research: Stereocomplexation of Stereoregular Aliphatic Polyesters:... read more →
June 13, 2022

Theresa Reineke Appointed to Associate Editor for Chemical Science
CSP Investigator Theresa Reineke has been appointed to associate editor for the journal Chemical Science. Professor Reineke was previously a... read more →
June 6, 2022

LoopCO2 Awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer Grant
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded LoopCO2 a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant of $250,000 to advance CO2-based... read more →
May 31, 2022

Marc Hillmyer named Top Scientist by Research.com
Congratulations to CSP Director Marc Hillmyer who was recently named one of the Top Scientists in the World according to... read more →
May 20, 2022

2022 Elementary Science Educator PD Workshop
You are invited to the 2022 Materials Science Educator PD Workshop! Each summer ASM International (Materials Science Association) offers Educator... read more →
April 29, 2022

Sarah Xi Awarded the Goldwater Scholarship
2021 CSP summer undergraduate participant Sarah Xi has been awarded the Goldwater Scholarship. Honoring the late Senator Barry Goldwater, the... read more →
April 29, 2022

NSF GRFP Awards and Honorable Mentions
Congratulations current CSP members and former undergrads on your 2022 NSF GRFP awards and honorable mentions! Awards: Eric Rachita Molly... read more →
April 12, 2022

Beyond the Classroom: Organics Recycling
CSP members joined in for Beyond the Classroom: From kitchen, to cart, to compost. Learn the ‘dirt’ on the City of Minneapolis’ organics... read more →
March 28, 2022

CSP and 4-H curriculum Empowers Youth Confront the Plastic Crisis
The curriculum is designed for high school youth and focused on the history, prevalence, impacts, and future of plastics. Youth... read more →
March 17, 2022
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).