The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has announced financial support for plastics processors who aim to increase the use of recycled or bio-based polymers in their products.

The Subsidy for the Switch to Plastics Processors 2025 (SOPV) still has €10.63 million available out of its total €13 million budget. Applications close on October 2, 2025, and RVO has warned that the program is unlikely to reopen in 2026.

The scheme is designed for:

• Compounders who enhance polymers with additives or fillers, and

• Converters who turn polymers or compounds into plastic semi-finished and finished products.

Funding covers 75% of the costs of production tests, up to €25,000 per application. Each applicant may receive support for up to two different production tests. These tests must be carried out in the Netherlands, using post-consumer recyclates (sourced domestically or internationally). The resulting products must be marketed in the Netherlands or exported.

To qualify, applicants must significantly increase the share of recycled or bio-based material used compared to current levels. However, production tests involving elastomers, thermosets, composites like rubber, and textile fibres are excluded.

In addition to SOPV, the Netherlands has allocated €80 million to projects that reduce CO2 emissions and promote circular economy practices, and €35.5 million to plastics recycling innovation.