Breakthrough offers endless recycling for acrylic plastics without the environmental cost

07-Apr-2026 - A breakthrough method for chemically recycling acrylic - one of the world’s most widely used plastics - has been developed by researchers at the University of Bath. In contrast to conventional mechanical recycling, this method uses lower temperatures and sustainable solvents without losing ...

Sustainable raw material supply: New FlashPhos process converts sewage sludge into phosphorus for industrial use

07-Apr-2026 - Disposing of wastewater treatment plant waste while simultaneously recovering white phosphorus: The new thermochemical FlashPhos process demonstrates how this works. It is currently the only technology in Europe capable of producing this essential raw material for industrial use in an ...

Better Recycled Plastics Through Artificial Intelligence

Data Analysis Instead of Lengthy Testing

02-Apr-2026 - The plastics industry faces a major challenge: it must use more recycled materials while delivering the same quality as newly produced plastics. This is exactly where the “SmartReUSE” project comes in. Funded by the European Union and the Free State of Bavaria, it pursues a clear goal: to process ...

Huge opportunity for the recovery of technology metals

Researchers secure innovation funding for electronic waste recycling

07-Jan-2026 - A team of six researchers from the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) has reached the first round of the current SPRIND Tech Metal Transformation Challenge. This secures the HIF team, which is part of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), more than one million ...

Prospects for the development of eco-friendly dielectric insulation materials from a full life cycle sustainability perspective

19-Dec-2025 - Modern electrical equipment relies heavily on polymer insulation materials, which are crucial for ensuring the safe operation of power grids. However, producing and disposing of these materials at the end of their life cycle has a significant environmental impact. This includes the extraction of ...

Turning diaper waste into new value: BASF, Essity and TU Wien pioneer circular solutions

Breakthrough gasification pilot project proves recyclability of diaper waste and other absorbent hygiene products

12-Dec-2025 - BASF, manufacturer of superabsorbent polymers (SAP), and Essity, a hygiene and health company, joined forces together with the Technical University of Wien to revolutionize recycling of absorbent hygiene products (AHP). The groundbreaking gasification pilot project proves that used diapers and ...

Lignin becomes valuable amides

Researchers achieve sustainable breakthrough

04-Dec-2025 - An international research team from the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and several Chinese universities, led by Prof. Jagadeesh Rajenahally and Prof. Matthias Beller, has developed a novel, environmentally friendly process for producing high-quality amides from the plant substance lignin ...

Sustainable chemistry with the help of Artificial Intelligence

The new process could make an important contribution to more environmentally friendly production

03-Nov-2025 - Amidation reactions are the most common reactions in the chemical industry. They are indispensable for a wide range of industrial production processes, but their ecological footprint is highly problematic. They generate large amounts of toxic waste and are energy-intensive. A team led by Dr ...

Patented technology against plastic waste

aevoloop secures €8.25 million

31-Oct-2025 - The Leipzig-based chemistry start-up aevoloop has raised around €3.25 million in a seed investment round. Together with just under €5 million in funding from the EU and the Free State of Saxony, the company can now take the next major steps toward the market launch of its circular technology. ...

Industrial areas become industrial hubs for the Circular Economy

The European Union wants to be the first digitally-led, climate-neutral and sustainable Circular Economy

19-Feb-2024 - In a functioning circular economy, different sectors must work together and symbioses between different technologies are a key prerequisite. To achieve this, systemic change is necessary. A consortium of 35 organizations from various countries in Europe is working on this in the Horizon Europe ...