Imagine a world in which all types of plastic containers, packaging, carbon fiber composite bikes and knee implants could be recycled together as a single processing stream. This is the ambitious goal of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis; the University of California, Berkeley; and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.While less than one-third of the total waste generated in the United States is recycled today, the team is using artificial intelligence to make new materials that could enable simple recycling of mixed waste streams back to pristine monomer that can then be converted to a new material with targeted properties.Christopher Cooper, assistant professor of energy, environmental &amp; chemical engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering at WashU, and Brooks Abel, assistant professor of chemistry at UC Berkeley, along with Debra Audus and Sara Orski from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will develop AI-driven design of architecturally diverse and deconstructable (ADD) polymers with a three-year, nearly $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Their goal is to design new sustainable polymers with a diverse range of properties that can be recycled without the need for costly and inefficient separation from mixed waste streams. Together, they plan to use simple feedstocks to create new types of plastics that can be converted back from a polymer to a monomer. They will develop physics-informed AI models to aid design of these plastics to meet various product specifications with different properties. They expect that their approach will allow different types of products to be integrated into a single recycling stream and accelerate the timeline to find more uses.The results and methods developed by this research will be publicly accessible for users to use AI to guide design of their own materials. This will allow a new generation of scientists to work at the emerging intersection of polymer materials design and AI model development and use, Cooper said.“This work will create new synthetic strategies to control chain-end and side-chain functionality, branch type and frequency and dynamic bond incorporation for polymers produced by cationic ring-opening polymerization,” Cooper said. “At the same time, a physics-informed AI will be continuously improved through active learning approaches and then used to perform inverse design to create new ADD polymers. These ADD polymers will be designed to achieve targeted properties within specified tolerances and will be validated against industry benchmarks.”The award was made through the NSF’s Molecular Foundations for Sustainability: Sustainable Polymers Enabled by Emerging Data Analytics (MFS-SPEED) program. Additional MFS-SPEED funding is provided by Procter &amp; Gamble, PepsiCo, Dow, BASF and IBM.

A multi-institutional team will develop AI-driven design of architecturally diverse and deconstructable (ADD) polymers with a three-year, nearly $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Their goal is to design new sustainable polymers with a diverse range of properties that can be recycled without the need for costly and inefficient separation from mixed waste streams. (Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Chris Cooper, collaborators to use AI to design new plastics that can be more easily recycled for a circular economy

AI to spark new recyclable plastics design

Society has long struggled with petroleum-derived plastic pollution, and awareness of microplastics' detrimental effects on food and water supplies adds further pressure. In response, researchers have been developing biodegradable versions of traditional plastics, or “bioplastics.” However, current bioplastics face challenges as well: Current versions are not as strong as petrochemical-based plastics and they only degrade through a high-temperature composting system.Enter researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, who have solved both problems with inspiration from the humble leaf. Long before plastic, humans wrapped their food in leaves, which easily biodegrade due to an underlying structure of cellulose-rich cell walls. WashU’s chemical engineers decided to introduce cellulose nanofibers to the design of bioplastics.“We created this multilayer structure where cellulose is in the middle and the bioplastics are on two sides,” said <a href="https://engineering.washu.edu/faculty/Joshua-Yuan.html">Joshua Yuan</a>, the Lucy and Stanley Lopata Professor and chair of energy, environmental &amp; chemical engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering. Yuan is also director for the <a href="https://curb.wustl.edu/">National Science Foundation-funded Carbon Utilization Redesign for Biomanufacturing (CURB) Engineering Research Center</a>. “In this way, we created a material that is very strong and that offers multifunctionality,” he added.The technology emerged from working with two of the highest production bioplastics today. In a study published in <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/gc/d4gc02440k">Green Chemistry</a> earlier this year, Yuan and colleagues used a variation of their leaf-inspired cellulose nanofiber structure to improve the strength and biodegradability of polyhydroxybutrate (PHB), a starch-derived plastic; they further refined their technique for polylactic acid (PLA), as detailed in a new paper just published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61693-2">Nature Communications.</a>The plastic packaging market is a $23.5 billion industry dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene, polymers made from petroleum that break down into harmful microplastics. The researchers' optimized bioplastic, called Layered, Ecological, Advanced and multi-Functional Film (LEAFF), turned PLA into a packaging material that is biodegradable at room temperature. Additionally, the structure allows for other critical properties, such as low air or water permeability, helping keep food stable, and a surface that is printable. This improves bioplastics' affordability since it saves manufacturers from printing separate labels for packaging. “On top of all of this, the LEAFF’s underlying cellulose structure gives it a higher tensile strength than even petrochemical plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene,” explained Puneet Dhatt, a PhD student in Yuan’s lab and first author on the article.The innovation was in adding that cellulosic structure that WashU’s engineers replicated, cellulose fibrils embedded within the bioplastics.“This unique biomimicking design allows us to address the limitations of bioplastic usage and overcome that technical barrier and allow for broader bioplastic utilization,” Yuan said.<h2>Circular economy ready</h2>The United States is uniquely positioned to dominate the bioplastics market and establish a “circular economy” wherein waste products are reused, fed back into systems instead of left to pollute the air and water or sit in landfills.Yuan hopes this technology can scale up soon and seeks commercial and philanthropic partners to help bring these improved processes to industry. Competitors from Asian and European research institutions also are working to develop similar technology. But U.S. industries have an advantage due to the country’s vast agriculture system — and WashU is near the center of the nation's agrichemical industry.“The U.S. is particularly strong in agriculture,” Yuan said. "We can provide the feedstock for bioplastic production at a lower price compared to other parts of the world.”The “feedstock” Yuan is referring to are chemicals such as lactic acid, acetate or fatty acids like oleate, products of corn or starch fermentation by microbes that serve as bioplastic factories.Pseudomonas putida, for instance, is a microbial strain widely used in the fermentation industry, including to produce a variety of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), including PHB. McKelvey Engineering researchers have designed ways to convert various wastes, including carbon dioxide, lignin and food waste, into bioplastics using strains such as P. putida. With improved bioplastic design, Yuan’s research further fills in that loop, with a version of PHB and PLA that could be produced much more efficiently and degrade safely into the environment. “The United States has a waste problem, and circular reuse could go a long way to turning that waste into useful materials,” Yuan said. “If we can ramp up our bioplastic supply chain, it would create jobs and new markets,” he said.<hr />Dhatt PS, Hu A, Hu C, Huynh V, Dai SY, Yuan JS, Biomimetic layered, ecological, advanced, multi-functional film for sustainable packaging. Nature Communications 16, 6649 (2025). DOI: <a href="https://engineering.washu.edu/news/2025/%20https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61693-2"> https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61693-2</a>This work was supported by National Science Foundation (EEC 2330245, NSF MCB 2229160) and U.S. Department of Energy BETO (Bioenergy Technologies Office) Projects.Li J, Liu W, Chang A, Foudeh Z, Yu J, Wei P, Chen K, Hu C, Puneet D, Dai SY, Yuan JS. Integrated design of multifunctional reinforced bioplastics (MReB) to synergistically enhance strength, degradability, and functionality. Green Chemistry, vol 27; issue 18,15 April 2025. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/d4gc02440k">https://doi.org/10.1039/d4gc02440k</a>This work is supported by NSF MCB 2229160, and U.S. Department of Energy BETO (Bioenergy Technologies Office) projects including EE 0007104, DE EE 0008250 and others.

LEAFF bioplastic packaging holds an apple slice. The original form of this fermented sugar-based plastic requires high temperature composting to degrade, but WashU’s engineers have a new form of this packaging that degrade into harmless organic material at room temperature. (Photo: Puneet Dhatt).

Adding a layer of cellulose makes bioplastics biodegradable, and stronger

Leaf-inspired design brings bioplastics to the big leagues

But there are times when machinery produces unexpected outcomes, slows down, or stops working altogether. While errors can’t always be avoided, they can be significantly reduced by using the right approach. Many machinery errors are preventable if you develop a strong preventative maintenance strategy to keep everything working just as it should.&nbsp;Preventative maintenance means taking proper care of industrial machinery and equipment to&nbsp;<a title="Downtime" href="https://www.rowse-automation.co.uk/blog/post/how-to-reduce-equipment-downtime" target="_blank">reduce the risk of downtime</a> and minimise the need for costly repairs. This will help to extend the expected lifespan of a piece of equipment. By following a structured and comprehensive preventive maintenance checklist, businesses can ensure that their machinery remains in optimal working condition, leading to sustained operational efficiency and a safer work environment.What follows is a guide to creating a preventive maintenance checklist tailored for industrial machinery. While the full scope of preventive maintenance can be extensive, this guide concentrates on the essential aspects to provide practical and actionable steps that can be applied across different workplaces, environments and industrial equipment.<h2 dir="ltr">What Is Preventive Maintenance?</h2><img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://v3.rowse.co.uk/static/images/blog/posts/xitonuv61bGqCDXV.jpg" alt="Preventive Maintenance Checklist For Industrial Machinery" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Preventive maintenance is all about being proactive. Instead of sitting around and waiting for machinery to break down over time, it involves regular inspections, servicing and repairs to prevent issues before they occur. This proactive approach helps maintain equipment reliability, improve safety and avoid the high costs associated with emergency repairs and unexpected downtime.Reducing costs is critical in today’s economic landscape. With the&nbsp;<a title="Downtime" href="https://uk-manufacturing-online.co.uk/worlds-largest-manufacturers-lose-1-5-trillion-a-year-to-production-outages-as-the-cost-of-failure-soars/" target="_blank">cost of unplanned downtime</a> in industrial environments growing by 50% in just two years, it’s clear that more needs to be done.&nbsp;That ‘more’ is preventative maintenance.&nbsp;This is a strategy that’s often paired with&nbsp;<a title="Predictive Maintenance" href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/what-is-predictive-maintenance" target="_blank">predictive maintenance</a>, which estimates when a machine will begin failing by using a system of sensors and data analytics. Preventative maintenance encompasses the tasks needed to stop that failure from occurring.&nbsp;A well-crafted preventive maintenance checklist is an indispensable tool in this process. It provides a clear and consistent guide for maintenance teams to follow, ensuring that all necessary tasks are completed systematically and on schedule, with each machine given the care and attention it needs.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Essential Elements Of A Preventive Maintenance Checklist</h2>Here are the fundamental components of a powerful checklist:<h3 dir="ltr">1. Inspection Tasks</h3>Regular inspections are the foundation of preventive maintenance. These tasks involve checking the overall status of the equipment, looking for any signs of damage, wear, or tear, and accurately detecting any potential issues before they become bigger problems. Inspection tasks should include:<ul><li dir="ltr">Visual inspection: Look for obvious signs of damage, such as leaks or wear on machinery parts</li><li dir="ltr">Operational inspection: Monitor machinery during operation to detect unusual behaviours</li><li dir="ltr">Safety inspection: Ensure all safety guards, interlocks, and emergency stop buttons are functional</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">2. Lubrication And Fluid Checks</h3>Lubrication helps to keep moving parts in good working order, reducing friction and preventing excessive wear and overheating. Fluid checks are also essential for systems that rely on hydraulics, cooling or other fluid-based operations. Important maintenance tasks to carry out include:<ul><li dir="ltr">Lubrication: Apply lubricant to bearings, gears, chains and other suitable parts</li><li dir="ltr">Fluid Levels: To maintain proper levels, check and top up hydraulic fluids, coolant and oil</li><li dir="ltr">Leak inspection: Inspect hoses, seals and connections for signs of leaks or wear</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">3. Mechanical Adjustments</h3>Over time, machinery components may shift or become misaligned, leading to inefficiencies or potential breakdowns. Regular adjustments can help to ensure that the equipment continues to operate to the best of its ability. Manual adjustments that may need to be made include:<ul><li dir="ltr">Alignment: Verify that belts, pulleys and gears are correctly aligned and tensioned</li><li dir="ltr">Tightening: Ensure that all bolts, nuts and screws are tight and secure</li><li dir="ltr">Calibration: Regularly calibrate sensors, gauges and control systems to ensure accurate operation</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">4. Component Replacement</h3>Some parts of the machinery will undoubtedly wear out and need replacement over time, even with regular maintenance. Identifying and replacing these components before they actively fail is a critical aspect of preventive maintenance. Aspects to consider during this stage of the process include:<ul><li dir="ltr">Wear parts: Replace worn-out belts, filters, seals and gaskets</li><li dir="ltr">Electrical components: Inspect and replace faulty wiring, fuses and circuit breakers</li><li dir="ltr">Critical parts: Replace key components like bearings and valves as per the manufacturer's schedule</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">5. Cleaning And Housekeeping</h3>When machinery is clean, it becomes easier to inspect and, therefore, easy to spot any potential issues. Cleaning equipment regularly can help to keep dirt, dust and other contaminants at bay, reducing the risk of damage that can ultimately impact efficiency. Cleaning tasks should include:<ul><li dir="ltr">Surface cleaning: Wipe down machine surfaces to remove dust, grease and other contaminants</li><li dir="ltr">Internal cleaning: Clean or replace air filters, fans and other internal components</li><li dir="ltr">Work area maintenance: Keep the surrounding area clean and free of obstructions</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">6. Testing And Verification</h3>Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of preventative maintenance is testing and verification. After completing maintenance tasks, testing the equipment can provide much-needed confidence that the machinery is working properly and that the maintenance has been effective. This stage includes:<ul><li dir="ltr">Operational testing: Run the machine through standard operations to confirm it works as expected</li><li dir="ltr">Safety checks: Test emergency stop functions, safety interlocks, alarms and other safety features</li><li dir="ltr">System monitoring: Use diagnostic tools to monitor performance and identify lingering issues</li></ul><h2>&nbsp;Creating A Customised Preventive Maintenance Plan</h2>While the above checklist provides a general framework, every business should be able to tailor their preventive maintenance plan to the specific needs of its own facility and equipment.&nbsp;Here are four steps to customise a maintenance plan:<ol><li>Identify all equipment: Create an inventory of all machinery that requires maintenance</li><li>Determine maintenance frequency: Make a note of how often each machine requires attention</li><li>Delegate tasks: Make a schedule that shows who is in charge of which task – and when</li><li>Implement and monitor: Once your checklist is in place, integrate it into your daily operations</li></ol><h2 dir="ltr">Achieving Long-Term Success With Preventive Maintenance</h2>A robust preventive maintenance checklist is not just a tool for maintaining industrial machinery. It's a critical component of a successful long-term maintenance strategy that drives efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. By regularly inspecting, servicing and repairing equipment, businesses can prevent costly breakdowns, extend the lifespan of machinery and maintain a safe environment.Preventative maintenance strategies can be powerful, but to ensure they deliver results, it's essential to keep your checklist up to date, customise it to your specific needs and ensure that all maintenance tasks are performed consistently and thoroughly. With a proactive approach and a commitment to regular maintenance, you’ll be giving yourself exactly what you need to keep your industrial machinery in top condition, supporting the long-term success of your operations.

In modern industry, it’s critical that machinery continues to operate efficiently and effectively whenever needed. That is the key to maintaining optimal productivity and ensuring safety.

Preventive Maintenance Checklist For Industrial Machinery

<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">FREE REPORT:&nbsp;Reducing Human Driver Error and Setting Realistic Expectations with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems</h2>Thousands die or are injured each year in automobile crashes. Bringing automated driving systems technologies into the advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle space will help humans drive more safely and better prepare us for automated vehicles (AVs).Learn more about ADAS and ADS implementation with the goal of reaching zero deaths and serious injuries by downloading this FREE report from SAE International (valued at $50).&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzAyMjkzOTY4NzIxLXNhZSBmcmVlIHJlcG9ydC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr"><iframe width="540" height="740" src="https://c8056756.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAIm7QnvQQ9ZyzkX--H5jNS-TSb9GWr5SQBXi_SUjRPpt67CBveq_yevZYMSeiJ-O1dwYw05f2kl-Q7sfNDRem1Y-03GXYZV4qkTbJeR_K_VpJzgMk_8Ry8fjyfgJ7fAMrCmcRHc1KXsSTuhIU5p5pBa3F1-TGDgOdQgcF-pU8cSTrl8JF2j2b9gl6-5e66Ro-rltcIrGxsRG" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen="" style="display: block;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;max-width: 100%;" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> </h2><h2 dir="ltr">Circular thinking is critical to companies’ sustainability efforts</h2>Sustainability extends beyond just decarbonization. &nbsp;A term popping up more and more in executive and engineering-focused presentations is “circular economy,” referring to a closed-loop production cycle that seeks to minimize resource inputs and reduce or eliminate waste and emissions.Attendees at the recent SAE COMVEC 2023 heard from Rob Zemenchik, CNH Industrial’s Sr. Manager for Product Sustainability, explaining how the company specifically seeks projects that deliver on circularity in the product lifecycle. CNH Industrial’s roadmap to hit its 2030 and 2050 climate targets includes more than 150 specific projects. One of the “early success stories” is its work with British company Bennaman on an on-farm liquid fugitive biomethane production process.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzAyMjc5MzU5NTU2LXNhZS1jb212ZWNfZHRuYS1yZWZ1ZWxpbmctaW5mcmFzdHJ1Y3R1cmVfZ2FsbGVyeS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Daimler Truck North America and DTE Energy are partnering on a real-world prototype program in Michigan called the Mobility Charging Hub, which will test new technologies, digital services and business models designed to modernize truck stops and accelerate deployment of commercial EVs at scale.“Biodigestion is not new, but the cost was always too high. You had physical structures that were very capital intensive,” he said. Bennaman developed a “low-cost” lagoon cover that captures fugitive methane from livestock manure and converts it to automotive-grade CNG and LNG (compressed and liquefied natural gas) that the OEM claims is a “better-than-zero-carbon” biofuel.Methane has a global warming potential of more than 80 times that of CO2 over a 20-year period, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). “Cows, which are often indicted as culprits in global warming, can now be part of the solution,” Zemenchik asserted. “One of the successes we’ve seen so far [in this project] is that we can now do this with less than a five-year payback in a system that lasts up to 20 years.”<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzAyMjk0MTkxODExLWJpZnVlbCAyLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Part of the biofuel production facility. Image credit: BennamannSpeakers on the “Smart Engineering for Sustainability” executive roundtable at COMVEC addressed the question posed by SAE Media about how their companies prioritize their technology portfolios and decide which projects to pursue. “We will touch everything from powertrains to hydraulics,” Zemenchik said. “It’s incremental – it’s a percent here, two percent there. To decarbonize a fleet, we have to do the deep dive into all of those products.” He added that being open to collaborative operations with “interesting, non-traditional players” can help with gains, instead of relying solely on in-house R&amp;D.Engineers need to be economists and perform what-if scenarios for strategic planning, according to Tim Frazier, VP of Research and Technology at Cummins Inc. “As economists you have to start thinking about what are the minimum set of building blocks that we need to assemble resilient solutions for our customer base. It doesn’t mean we’re going to take them all into production, but we’re building technology capability [for when] the future becomes more clear.”Rakesh Aneja, head of eMobility for Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), replied: “The engineer in me wants to do everything. The reality is that [we have] finite resources, both financial and even more importantly, people.” Regulations and customer demand are two factors to consider, as is balancing between near- and long-term solutions. Hydrogen technology – both fuel cells and combustion engines – will play a complementary role, he said, but in the U.S. is at least a “couple years” behind the battery-electric ecosystem.A “trifecta” of conditions is required for successful decarbonization, Aneja said: viable product solutions, total cost of ownership (TCO) parity, which is “not where it needs to be” but is improving, and dependable charging/refueling infrastructure, which is lagging. “We have several battery-electric vehicles in production today. The initial acquisition price of those vehicles is two to three times the cost of a comparable diesel vehicle,” he said, noting that localization and industrialization of <a href="http://www.sae.org/news/2023/09/lfp-battery-cell-production-for-electric-commercial-vehicles" target="_blank">battery production</a> will help bring costs down.Don Hillebrand, division director at Argonne National Laboratory, referenced a recent meeting he attended in which several people from both the utility and OEM sides said that the infrastructure is at least five years behind where electric vehicles are. “And that’s probably a true statement,” he said. “It’s building up very quickly, but infrastructure [still] moves slower than the needs of our vehicle fleets.”Aneja agreed, saying that some of the best-case scenarios for infrastructure installation are 18-24 months. “In many cases, infrastructure timelines are much longer – two or three years, even longer,” he said. “That continues to be a challenge, and a lot needs to be done from a proactive perspective to meet our emissions goals.”But why wait? posited Cummins’ Frazier. “Rather than waiting for a few specific answers to be right in the future against all the limitations and infrastructure challenges that are up against them, [we could] employ a broader matrix of solutions to go further, faster,” he said. “If we leverage low-carbon fuels, liquid fuels, hydrogen and renewable grids, we can take about 1.4 gigatons of CO2 out of the environment, ahead of waiting for [widespread] grid infrastructure. That’s the equivalent of taking every truck off the street for three years. Not a bad goal.”

The New Holland T7 Methane Power LNG tractor can run on “better-than-zero-carbon” biofuel – liquefied fugitive methane captured and converted from slurry lagoons that hold livestock manure. (CNH Industrial)

How can circular economy principles be applied to the automotive industry?

Circular economy principles for a sustainable automotive future

E-textiles are worn close to and/or against the surface of the skin, with applications in healthcare, gaming, athletic training and environmental monitoring. Thanks to embedded electronic components, e-textiles can store and harvest energy, sense, display, actuate and compute.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1698479495630-resizedcamdrawing1.png" style="width: 768px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Illustration showing the 4R design concept: repair; recycle; replace; reduce. Credit: Dr Harvey ShiYet there are two major challenges to the future growth of e-textiles: firstly, high costs, therefore resulting in slower consumer adoption. Secondly, high environmental costs associated with mass production, in particular, <a href="https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-002-En.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">microplastic water pollution</a>. Fundamentally, we need new ways to prevent the scale-up of e-textiles from becoming the next electronic waste (e-waste) environmental fiasco.This is according to a team of engineers and scientists from the UK, Canada, the USA and China, led by the University of Cambridge, who warn that the e-textile supply chain and its potential for scalable commercialisation could be “further complicated” by the associated global environmental burden, and the growing use of nanomaterials in e-textiles. They say that some of these nanomaterials can pose environmental challenges and could also have adverse effects on human health (e.g. skin irritation and/or absorption of loose nanoparticles into the skin).<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-023-01615-z" target="_blank">Writing in the journal</a> Nature Materials, the research team proposes the 4R e-textile design concept (repair; recycle; replace; reduce) alongside innovations in materials selection and biofabrication-inspired processing – a revolutionary approach that uses additive manufacturing processes to produce biomaterials, devices, cells and tissues. The aim is to reach sustainable growth and balance economic returns/scalable commercialisation with “environmental consciousness”, at a time when <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/survey-consumer-sentiment-on-sustainability-in-fashion" target="_blank">consumers are actively aligning their purchasing behaviours with sustainability goals</a>.The 4Rs for more affordable, versatile e-textiles products and enhanced supply chains have been defined as follows:<h3>Repair</h3>‘Fibre level’ repairs e.g. resewing, reweaving, reknitting and self-healing of electronic fibres, and bulk ‘fabric-level’ repairs e.g. recoating, reprinting and respraying of active materials.Eventually, the e-textile materials would adopt self-healing mechanisms, which would give them the capability of self-repair over time. Also, with a modular approach to future e-textile designs, it is also possible to switch out faulty components easily and rejuvenate the electronic functionalities of the system.<h3>Recycle</h3>In the near term, recycling can be encouraged by categorising and separating e-textiles components into the base textile and the electronic modules.The base textile can be recycled as regular clothing and the electronic components recycled as regular e-waste streams.However, e-textile recycling becomes more complex when the fabrics contain, for example, functionalised electronic fibres with electrical conductivity and sensing capabilities. Extraction in most cases would be time-consuming and costly, say the researchers, so reusing and repurposing used functional components might be a viable option.<h3>Replacement</h3>The research team also notes&nbsp;that while biomass fibres such as those extracted from wool, silk, cellulose, flax and hemp, could provide a renewable source for e-textile production, this is not often possible. This is due to the fact that nano- and microstructured active coatings and functionalised strategies need to be applied to enable electronic functions, that would otherwise be missing. Therefore, novel materials design that utilises earth-abundant elements can accelerate e-textile commercialisation and make them more cost-effective for the average consumer.Additionally, the research team also calls for alternative bioderived material options for electronic fibre encapsulation to create non-irritating and skin-compatible e-textile surfaces. Currently, material options are mostly synthetic and non-biodegradable.<h3>Reduction</h3>This, according to the researchers, can be interpreted in two ways:<ol><li>Reducing the total emissions and energy consumption during e-textile production and deployment.</li><li>Reducing the total amount of material used in e-textiles to achieve and maintain a specified function.</li></ol>“Currently, the scalable commercialisation of e-textiles products is limited by high pricing and lack of diversity, durability and washability,” said co-lead author <a href="http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/yysh2" target="_blank">Professor Shery Huang</a> from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering. “This is why materials considerations in the 4R realm (identified as repair; recycle; replace; reduce) need to be addressed in order to secure a sustainable future for e-textiles development.”“Machine washing of e-textiles has, to date, contributed to an increase in microplastic pollution in the water stream. The challenge here is to reinforce the functional longevity of e-textiles, while minimising the number of microparticles released. Strategies for this include the decoupling of transient/single-use components or designing ‘dry’ or ‘vapour-based’ cleaning protocols that consume less water,” said co-lead author Dr Harvey Shi from Western University, Canada.The research team has proposed various sustainable e-textile strategies. For example, an e-textile can be divided as “canvas” and “modules” components. The “canvas” is machine-washable and provides the bulk of the user’s sensory experience, while the “modules” are the interconnected components that carry electronic functionalities.The researchers&nbsp;say that the “canvas” should be designed to maintain reliability as an electrically insulating and chemically inert medium under persistent use and occasional reconfiguration. The “modules” meanwhile, can be designed with various formats to be easily removable and replaceable, so that their electronic functions can be maintained for long-term use.The “canvas” and “modules” can be sorted by three preliminary lifespan ratings: quasi-permanent, with a lifespan of approximately one year; multiple use, with a lifespan ranging from weeks to months; and single-use.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1698479511172-CENTRE_CamDrawing2.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Illustration showing the marriage of 4R concepts with functional fibre production/digital additive manufacturing and biofabrication techniques. Credit: Dr Harvey Shi.According to the researchers, the timeline for 4R-integrated e-textiles development can be broken down into the following:In the near term – standardising e-textiles platforms to integrate a variety of electronic modules, leading to innovative processing technologies and industrial standardisation that will bring affordable e-textiles to a broader consumer base.Further developments include: automated assembly processes; a database of functional ink formations for e-textiles developers to use; and establishing standardisation in component decoupling based on longevity ratings – a move that also effectively minimises the release of electronic micro- or nanoparticles into the water stream.<a href="https://www.graphene.cam.ac.uk/people/yifei-pan" target="_blank">Yifei Pan</a>, PhD student in the&nbsp;<a href="https://biointerface.eng.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Biointerface Research Group</a> at Cambridge, said: “Adopting this standardisation approach in the near term can enable developers to create a customised array of cross-compatible functional components; reinforce user safety and public interests in the personalised healthcare and customised non-invasive therapeutics market (i.e. product certification); and can lead to designated cleaning protocols.”In the mid-term – employing user-centric design strategies and innovative processing technologies to offer a broader range of e-textiles to the public, ones that are comfortable to wear and which can be personalised to the user.“This is the point at which self-healing/self-repairing fibres can be achieved through molecular design and without the need for human intervention,” said Dr Shi. “This would effectively create a repairable e-textile ecosystem, in which the product can be readily disassembled and refurbished without adding to the environmental burden.”In the long term – sustainable and ‘living’ e-textiles can be realised, such as engineered robotic skin. Biohybrids, fibre-on-demand and biofabrication technologies will enable these e-textiles to self-clean (thus minimising the requirements for machine washing or solvent-based cleaning), self-repair and be capable of self-regeneration in the future.“In summary, the road towards ‘green’, biohybrid and circular fabrication calls for the marriage of our 4R concepts with functional fibre production/digital additive manufacturing and biofabrication to produce highly customisable e-textile designs,” said <a href="http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/th270" target="_blank">Professor Tawfique Hasan</a> from the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.graphene.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Cambridge Graphene Centre</a>.Professor Huang added: “As we drive towards future sustainable e-textile manufacturing, there could be a paradigm shift from a centralised mass production strategy with one principal facility to a more widespread additive manufacturing/3D printing platform – ultimately creating and repairing e-textiles on-site.”Reference: HaoTian Harvey Shi; Yifei Pan; Lin Xu; Xueming Feng; Wenyu Wang; Prasad Potluri; Liangbing Hu; Tawfique Hasan; Yan Yan Shery Huang. ‘<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-023-01615-z" target="_blank">Sustainable electronic textiles towards&nbsp;scalable commercialization</a>’. Nature Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01615-z

If electronic textiles (e-textiles) are to have a sustainable future and at scale, then a transition is needed to unlock innovative wearable e-textiles that fit a sustainable circular economy – adopting what has been termed as the 4R design concept: repair; recycle; replace; reduce.

Innovative wearable e-textiles fit for a sustainable circular economy

Large Format Additive Manufacturing solutions can play a game-changing role in product and process optimization, contributing to fighting climate breakdown.&nbsp;With Caracol&#39;s LFAM system Heron AM&nbsp;it was possible to support the ultimate purpose of&nbsp;circular&nbsp;economy, as demonstrated with the research project&nbsp;Demo4Green&nbsp;- 𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗲-𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘 &ldquo;𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲&rdquo;, a project organized by EIT Manufacturing and MADE Competence Center 4.0 in Italy.&nbsp;Using recycled&nbsp;glass fibers&nbsp;and&nbsp;polypropylene, the company has been working to produce components for the energy sector. The company focused its effort on developing a glass fiber&nbsp;lamination&nbsp;tool&nbsp;for micro wind turbine blades (these turbines are used in urban and rural areas to generate power for factories, offices, buildings, ...).&nbsp;With its&nbsp;LFAM&nbsp;system&nbsp;HeronAM, Caracol 3D printed a lamination tool for micro wind turbines out of recycled material, achieving and providing evidence of several tangible benefits if compared with traditional processes, such as:&nbsp;✔️ improved lead time by 50%&nbsp; ✔️ increased raw material saving by 72%&nbsp; ✔️ enhanced waste reduction by 90% comparedThe application was validated also from a technical standpoint. The dimensional tolerances and surface roughness of the component were maintained, while the material porosity was equal to a maximum of 0.2 mm.

Large Format Additive Manufacturing can be game-changing in product and process optimization, contributing to fighting climate breakdown. For the project Demo4Green - 𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗲-𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘, Caracol used recycled glass fibers and polypropylene to produce a lamination tool for micro wind turbines.

3D Printed Wind Blade Lamination Tool from Recycled Materials

Working with polymers and composites, Caracol has always felt it had a responsibility in finding ways to use the material it handles in the best way: first of all by recycling the waste generated through processes like CNC and subtractive tech (that traditionally generates large quantities of waste), upcycling this material with the support of specialized partners, and then finding new ways to use recycled materials to manufacture new applications through the company&#39;s Large Format Additive Manufacturing technology (Heron AMTM).&nbsp;Caracol developed its LFAM system as a robotized extrusion head, a dedicated software platform for the most complex tool paths, and with direct and continuous feeding of composites and polymers in pellet form. This allows the platform to use both virgin and recycled material (e.g., shreds, scraps, and more).Through this Christmas project, the company wanted to provide&nbsp;an example of what the company can do thanks to Additive Manufacturing, a way to stimulate companies also in advanced sectors to potentially investigate how they can introduce recycled materials within their production processes.&nbsp;

To send its Christmas wishes Caracol worked on a project that is representative of its values and work as an Additive Manufacturing company. 

Enabling Circular Christmas with Robotic LFAM

Since the 1980s the pace of development in the global electronics industry has outstripped that of practically any other industry. It has become a leading sector of the economy for some countries and a heavyweight contributor to total industrial production in many others. The industry&rsquo;s race is far from run. Consumer electronics alone is a trillion-dollar industry that is expanding every year, and the connectivity explosion brought by the IoT will further expand electronics&rsquo; reach.&nbsp;But while the opportunity is huge, we must only grasp it while ensuring that sustainability is built into everything we do. One key challenge is e-waste. This is one of the fastest-growing refuse streams, with some 50 million tonnes generated yearly. According to the United Nations University, today, only 20 percent of e-waste is recycled, while 80 percent is dumped, illegally traded, or recycled under uncontrolled conditions. The concept of the circular economy promises to help address this unsustainability.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Round and round</h2>The circular economy considers strategies including the five &#39;Rs&#39;&mdash;reduce, reuse, repair, recycle and restore&mdash;and has the potential to contribute to multiple United Nations&rsquo; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to&nbsp;The Connected Consumer Report 2030, produced by business think tank The Future Laboratory for Vodafone Smart Tech, &lsquo;Smart Circularity&rsquo;&mdash;the circular economy as it relates to connected technology and the IoT&mdash;can help the world shift away from linear consumption to an economy where resources are fed back into a closed loop of recycling, reusing and sharing.&nbsp;By 2025, improved resource productivity could deliver an annual net material cost saving of $600 billion in Europe alone, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 39 percent. But to reach these ambitious targets, chip makers and electronic device manufacturers must play a critical role.&nbsp;<h2>Reuse and recycle</h2>Tech products should emphasize reusability, and developers must consider recyclability and multi-purpose use in their designs from the beginning. Planned obsolescence in all its guises, from contrived durability and repair prevention to software lockouts and batteries that can&rsquo;t be replaced, belongs to the last century.&nbsp;Consumers should expect new devices to be compatible with several generations of previous technology. This forward and backward integration helps cut down on e-waste and over-consumption. Meanwhile, easy-to-access firmware updates will increase longevity, ensuring end users don&rsquo;t have to buy new hardware to access the latest product features.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is an approach that Nordic Semiconductor has followed for years. The company&rsquo;s products feature robust and backward-compatible design, over-the-air (OTA) upgradable software, and battery life that could see many IoT devices last well into the next decade if deployed today. Nordic&rsquo;s durable chip architecture has been designed with an ambitious future-proofed philosophy, offering powerful processors and memory beyond most existing requirements, but which will support the applications tomorrow&rsquo;s (and the day after tomorrow&rsquo;s) designers will dream up.&nbsp;<h2>Transforming consumption and waste</h2>The Connected Consumer Report 2030&nbsp;also notes that beyond the electronics design and manufacturing community, IoT technology can also help society to embrace smart circularity with the potential to transform how we view and manage consumption.&nbsp;&nbsp;Every day at Nordic, we encounter customers building smart solutions expressly designed with sustainability and waste management in mind. There is no better example than German firm adhoc networks. The company has launched a smart waste management solution capable of monitoring fill levels in waste containers. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF9160?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nRF9160</a>&nbsp;SiP-powered device allows waste management businesses to allocate rubbish collection resources and avoid overflow remotely.&nbsp;Self-learning fill level prediction modelling and dynamic route simulation can optimize rubbish collection crew productivity, helping reduce CO2&nbsp;emissions by only scheduling waste collection when containers are full. According to adhoc networks, emissions from waste disposal businesses can be reduced by up to 40 percent when using the tech (ref: adhoc networks blog&nbsp;<a href="https://ad-hoc.com/en-GB/blog/why-fill-level-monitoring-in-waste-containers-simply-makes-sense/" target="_blank">&#39;Why fill level monitoring in waste containers makes sense&#39;</a>).&nbsp;<h2>Smart (green) business</h2>The German company also practices what it preaches regarding resource management and smart circularity. Through adhoc network&rsquo;s subscription model customers pay a monthly fee and get everything, including sensor hardware, as part of the package. The company monitors the health of the wireless sensors and provides OTA firmware updates to keep everything operational. If a technical defect can&rsquo;t be remotely solved, the company sends a replacement sensor, and old sensors are refurbished and reused to make them as reliable and long-lived as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company is one of many Nordic customers not only following the UN&rsquo;s SDGs in their own business but also helping other businesses and the community achieve a more sustainable future. The stakes are high. As&nbsp;The Connected Consumer 2030 Report&nbsp;notes, we have already reached the limits of linear consumption. We can no longer simply take, make, use and dispose, we need to find a better way. The IoT, wireless connectivity and smart technology is at the heart of the solution. Nordic and its customers are up for the challenge.&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>This article was first published on Nordic&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" id="isPasted"></a><a href="https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get Connected Blog</a>. &nbsp;

‘Smart Circularity’—the circular economy as it relates to connected technology and the IoT—can help the world shift away from linear consumption to an economy where resources are fed back into a closed loop of recycling, reusing and sharing. 

Smart circularity promises a less wasteful future

Kunststoffenbeurs is the annual trade show for the Benelux plastics industry to share knowledge, celebrate innovation and make cutting-edge advances visible. The goal: sharing knowledge to help the industry in the fight against plastic pollution, colloquially known as plastic soup. As with previous editions, the 2022 Kunststoffenbeurs will also pay extensive attention to sustainability, recycling, redesign, and reduction of CO2 footprint.&nbsp;In this article, we share an overview of the initiatives found at&nbsp;<a href="https://kunststoffenbeurs.nl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kunststoffenbeurs 2022</a>, held at Brabanthallen, &#39;s-Hertogenbosch,&nbsp;The Netherlands, on 14 and 15 September.&nbsp;<h1>A future-forward plastic industry</h1>The Dutch government has set the ambitious goal to achieve 50% less raw material consumption in 2030 and&nbsp;implement a full circular&nbsp;plastics economy by 2050.&nbsp;The European Union-wide goals are just as ambitious and include banning all single-use plastics and increasing the demand for recycled plastics.[1]&nbsp;The circular economy is an economic model that practices producing materials designed to be used to their highest potential and can be circulated within the system without the release of harmful emissions. This guarantees to secure finite resources and facilitates sustainable growth.[2,3] This model has a positive impact on the well-being of people, society, and planet Earth by enabling sustainable growth and securing resources for the future. &nbsp;As an innovative sector, the plastics and rubber industry is at the forefront of this ambitious change and is continuously working on making (end) products more sustainable. For example, 30% of all plastic waste in the Netherlands is recycled or reused and more and more plastics are biobased or biodegradable, while the use of raw materials such as petroleum is significantly reduced.&nbsp;Sustainability does not stop at the (end) product.&nbsp;The&nbsp;industry works on the entire (production) process: from energy saving in production to process optimization and the overall reduction of the CO&sup2; footprint.&nbsp;NRK and PlasticsEurope are collaborating for the event to bring the latest developments and possibilities in plastics sustainability and have organized a side-event called Rethink Expo.Further information on sustainable plastic applications at the Sustainability &amp; Recycling Area (stand 366 to 396).<h1>Kunststoffenbeurs keynote highlights</h1>As the meeting place for the entire plastics and rubber chain, the Kunststoffenbeurs is the platform to jointly address the opportunities and challenges that sustainability entails. Several keynotes will go into detail on how the industry can join together to build a robust plastics future.&nbsp;At Kunststoffenbeurs 2022, innovations expert Martin van Dord will present a keynote about achieving a more sustainable plastics future and lower CO2 emissions. Van Dord will provide insight into how the industry is working towards the circular economy and outline the benefits to businesses and consumers. In addition, the lecture will cover details about the tools available to developers, designers, and constructors to design products circularly.&nbsp;With all ambitious change comes challenges and hurdles. Accelerating the plastic circular economy is no different. As part of the 2022 Kunststoffenbeurs program, the director of Plastics Europe, Theo Stijnen, will give a lecture about the challenges of closing the plastic cycle.&nbsp;In his lecture, he will discuss the challenges of achieving the targets of the Dutch Government. The lecture will answer questions such as; What is going well and what needs to be done differently and better? Stijnen will also cover common questions regarding the reductions in CO2 emissions.&nbsp;Martin van Dord presentation: September 15. 15:00-15:55 Room 1Theo Stijnen: &nbsp;September 15. 14:00-14:25 Room 1<h1>A closed loop case study: From fridge to plant tray</h1>In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of recycled plastics. The upcoming challenge is ensuring enough recycled material to meet the high demand.&nbsp;One exciting closed loop example comes from Desch PlantPak. The company makes plant trays out of consumer plastics for the horticultural sector. By ensuring their products are made of 98% recycled material, Desch works with its grower customers and collects plastic waste from plastic processing companies.&nbsp;After the waste is collected, it is melted and made into a single sheet. Then using thermoforming technology, these recycled plastic sheets are moulded into the desired tray shape. Being Cyclos-HTP certified ensures the effective separation of these trays from the stream of plastic waste. Desch continues to reshape this sector in the agriculture industry.[4,5]People who would like to know more about the transformation can visit the lecture of Jan Willem Wieringa on the first day (September 14) of the Kunststoffenbeurs at&nbsp;15:00&nbsp; in the Live Stage Plastics Arena.&nbsp;<iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/268755744?h=9e915fbf0b" width="640" height="254" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe><h2>Matching designers with recycled materials</h2>Plastic is everywhere- helping in a myriad of ways to from clothing to medical equipment to car parts and even houses. However, plastic without an appropriate end of life or recycling plan can do damage to our environment. It is time to rethink the way we use this material. To make plastic future-proof, we need to rethink the way we use available resources and our production techniques.MaterialDistrict is a matchmaking platform in the field of innovative materials. R&amp;D and design professionals from all sectors use the platform to discover new materials solutions. At Kunststoffenbeurs 2022, MaterialDistrict will present 120 recycled materials chosen to inspire new ways of looking at what is generally considered disposable material, from reuse to replacement.These products include the more obvious products of recycled plastic to bioplastics made from corn starch, coffee grounds, and even cow&#39;s blood. &nbsp;These materials show that &quot;waste materials&quot; are an excellent resource for various purposes as an alternative to plastic. Interested people in learning more about MaterialDistrict can visit them at stand 480.<img width="605" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwODA4MzM0ODYzLTE2NjA4MDgzMzQ4NjMucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Image 1: Discover new materials at the MaterialDistrict stand. Image credit: MaterialDistrict.<h1>In conclusion</h1>The plastics industry is undergoing a radical shift to a sustainable, closed-loop future.&nbsp;Kunststoffenbeurs&nbsp;2022 is the place to meet the companies, researchers, and designers at the forefront of this change.&nbsp;<h3>Event information</h3>Website: <a href="https://kunststoffenbeurs.nl/home-en/" target="_blank">https://kunststoffenbeurs.nl/home-en/</a>Dates: 14 and 15 September 2022Location: <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/XtzhuMjxweKrFBnY6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Brabanthallen, &lsquo;s-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands)</a><a class="button-main-action" href="https://registration.gesevent.com/survey/083oz2u5cipb9/start?translation=008cefpd1zsvb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Register for free</a>For more information contact Susanne van Doornik (Mikrocentrum)via her email &nbsp;<a href="mailto:s.doornik@mikrocentrum.nl" target="_blank">s.doornik[at]mikrocentrum.nl</a>.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwODA5MDkwMTcyLW1pa3JvIGJvdHRvbSBiYW5uZXIuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h1>References&nbsp;</h1><ol class="decimal_type"><li>MIWA. 2022. European Commission Plan to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics | MIWA. [online] Available at: &lt;https://www.miwa.eu/blog/article58&gt; [Accessed 11 August 2022].</li><li>Hollandcircularhotspot.nl. 2022. TRANSITION-AGENDA-PLASTICS_EN.pdf. [online] Available at:&lt;https://hollandcircularhotspot.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TRANSITION-AGENDA-PLASTICS_EN.pdf&gt; [Accessed 11 August 2022].</li><li>European Environment Agency. 2022. Preventing plastic waste in Europe. [online] Available at: &lt;https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/preventing-plastic-waste-in-europe&gt; [Accessed 11 August 2022].</li><li>From fridges to plant trays [Internet]. Floraldaily.com. 2022 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from: https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9280361/from-fridges-to-plant-trays/</li><li>&nbsp;DESCH. 2022. [online] Available at: &lt;https://desch.nl/en/from-fridge-to-plant-tray&gt; [Accessed 11 August 2022].</li></ol><h3>Further Reading</h3>Suchak S, Irving E. Plastic phase-out: which companies will be most affected? [Internet]. Schroders. 2018 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from: <a href="https://www.schroders.com/en/insights/economics/plastic-phase-out-which-companies-will-be-most-affected/" target="_blank">https://www.schroders.com/en/insights/economics/plastic-phase-out-which-companies-will-be-most-affected/</a>Questions &amp; Answers: A European strategy for plastics [Internet]. European Commission - European Commission. 2022 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/sv/MEMO_18_6Tenhunen-Lunkka, A., Rommens, T., Vanderreydt, I. et al. Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Potential of European Union&rsquo;s Circularity Related Targets for Plastics. Circ.Econ.Sust. (2022). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00192-8" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00192-8</a>A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy [Internet]. European Commission. 2022 [cited 14 August 2022]. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0028&amp;from=PT#:~:Fast facts about plastic pollution [Internet]. Science. 2022 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastics-facts-infographics-ocean-pollution&nbsp;Ritchie H, Roser M. Plastic Pollution [Internet]. Our World in Data. 2022 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from: https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollutionIs Plastic Packaging bad for the environment? [Internet]. ITP Packaging. 2022 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from: https://itppackaging.com/is-plastic-packaging-bad-for-the-environment#:~Verpakkingen N. NRK Verpakkingen - Onderwerp [Internet]. Nrkverpakkingen.nl. 2022 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from:https://www.nrkverpakkingen.nl/onderwerpen/onderwerp?dossierid=2122481668&amp;title=Verpakkingen N. NRK Verpakkingen - Nieuwsbericht [Internet]. Nrkverpakkingen.nl. 2022 [cited 11 August 2022]. Available from: <a href="https://www.nrkverpakkingen.nl/nieuws/nieuwsbericht?newsitemid=3591471104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nrkverpakkingen.nl/nieuws/nieuwsbericht?newsitemid=3591471104</a>

A future-proof plastics industry will include biobased products and a closed loop of production and product recycling. 

Future Proofing Plastics

Wevolver, in partnership with <a href="https://growthgarage.mcam.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Growth Garage</a>, the business accelerator from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, and &nbsp;Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates, invited engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, startups, companies, and students to submit their ideas, technologies, and products as part of the 2022 Circular Economy Challenge.&nbsp;The challenge looked for innovators throughout the plastics circular economy who want to make use of advanced low carbon footprint engineering plastics or have developed innovative recycling technologies for advanced engineering plastics.The challenge was open to participants in two key areas: 1. Recycling Technology and 2. Products &amp; Parts.&nbsp;The Circular Economy &nbsp;Challenge received over 60 entries from 17 countries. The Wevolver community vote had over 700 votes.&nbsp;Congratulations to all finalists and winners!<hr><h2 dir="ltr">The winner of the Circular Economy Challenge</h2><h2 dir="ltr">Category 1: Recycling Technology</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Jeosal Materials Research Corporation</h3>Canada<a href="https://jeosal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://jeosal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeosal Materials Research Corporation</a> is a developer of economically viable, and ecologically sustainable solutions for the recycling and reuse of fiber-reinforced plastics from various sources including the automotive, aerospace, marine, and construction markets. Recovered products are channeled towards new applications in original or new markets.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our business model is designed specifically for the recycling of fiberglass from marine vessels and reuse of the recovered products. It has the added advantage of successful deployment for fiber-reinforced plastics from other sources.&nbsp;In this model, we rely on specifically modified and enhanced recovered fibres and resin powder for unusual end-uses to ensure an economically viable and environmentally responsible venture,&rdquo; describes Jeosal Materials Research Corporation&rsquo;s CEO, Osayuki Osazuwa.&nbsp;Jeosal Materials Research Corporation will receive $25,000 of support from Growth Garage and their partners to test the technology at scale and strengthen their business model.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2ODg0OTMwLUplb3NhbC1NYXRlcmlhbHMtUmVjeWNsZS1UZWNobm9sb2d5LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 302px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Examples of the Jeosal Materials Research Corporation technology. Image credit: JMRC.<h2>The winner of the Circular Economy Challenge Category 2</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Internode</h3>United States<a href="https://www.intermode.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Intermode</a> manufactures and produces small robotic vehicles which they lease to customers for the purpose of automated delivery. The robots are designed to recapture some portion of their material value at end of life for reuse in future robots.&nbsp;&ldquo;Coming from an automotive background, I know interior and exterior engineers can choose a huge range of different plastics to best target cost per individual component, but that can lead to a series of plastics that are individually &quot;recyclable&quot; but extremely difficult and cost-intensive to do so without tearing it down to small pieces.&nbsp;We intend to engineer the vehicle to maximum value and performance over its life lifecycle. We&#39;ve designed the vehicle to be modular to easily break it down for recycling and keep materials pure for as long as possible,&quot; explains Internode Co-founder and CEO Arnolld Kadiu.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&#39;d like to investigate two different types of plastics. Structural fiber-reinforced thermoplastics to over-molded metal parts and UV stable thermoplastics to either thermoform or injection mold vehicle exteriors.&rdquo;Intermode will receive $25,000 of support from Growth Garage and their partners to build prototypes and work with the challenge partners to strengthen their business model.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3MTEwMDk3LU1vZGFsLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Intermode robot. Image credit Intermode.&nbsp;<h2>Wevolver Community Vote winner</h2><h3>Wannes Van Laerhoven&nbsp;</h3>Belgium<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wannes-van-laerhoven-a79596238/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wannes Van Laerhoven</a> proposes a solution that recycles old tires and processes them into a filament suitable for 3D printing airless tires that can be used for various purposes.&nbsp;&ldquo;I have already done tests with a filament made from recycled car tires and the results are promising. There is good elasticity and better grip than on the other TPE and TPU filaments I have tested without the rubber from car tires. The print quality is also much better than expected and surface quality is even better than the filaments without added rubber. Even though it&#39;s 3D printed with FDM it is very hard to see the printed layers unlike the normal TPE shore 45D printed prototype.&rdquo;The airless tire can provide a good damping effect because the lattice structures used in the tire have good energy-absorbing properties. This causes a more enjoyable ride for applications in micro-mobility and mobility devices such as wheelchairs.&nbsp;Wannes Van Laerhoven will receive $10,000 of support from Growth Garage and their partners to develop their idea further and create a working prototype.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MDE4NDc4LWFpcmxlc3MgdGlyZSAoMSkuSlBHIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The proposed airless tires. Image credit: Wannes Van Laerhoven&nbsp;<h2>Student Vote winner</h2>Wannes Van Laerhoven also won the student prize. He will receive a further $5,000 in support from Growth Garage to develop his project, create prototypes and strengthen his business plan.&nbsp;<hr><h2>The Circular Economy Challenge finalists</h2>The finalists of the challenge impressed the judges with their innovative designs and cutting-edge approach to the circular economy.&nbsp;<h3>AirGo</h3>An AI-assisted technology that accelerates the process of metal replacement reliably and quickly predicts the anisotropic properties of highly complex reinforced thermoplastic components.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MDY3MDk5LUFpckdvLUF0bGFzICgxKS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Examples of the prediction process: Image credit: AirGo.<h3>Diamond Hard Surfaces</h3>A low-temperature processing technology that enables the coating of thermoplastics such as PEEK, PEK, and Polyimide materials with a hard wear-resistant coating.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MDc3NjkxLUNocmlzIEhfV2Fsa2VyX0RpYW1vbmQgSGFyZCBTdXJmYWNlcy5qZmlmIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A coated object. Image credit: Diamond Hard Surfaces.<h3>Interface Polymers</h3>Polarfin&reg; diblocks connect dissimilar plastics in recycled plastic blends allowing the recycling of multilayer films and mixed plastics which are currently uneconomic to recycle.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3NDgxNDY0LTQuLVBvbGFyZmluLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Polarfin&reg; diblocks illustrated. Image credit: Interface Polymers.&nbsp;<h3>RD Physics</h3>Remanufacturing loudspeakers using 3D printing. That means disassembling old loudspeakers and reusing the components in a new product.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MTIxMDM1LW1pdHN1YmlzaGlfY29udGVzdF9SRFBoeXNpY3NWb3RpbmcuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The recycled loudspeakers. Image credit: RD Physics.<h3>BCIRCULAR</h3>Provides a solution for the recycling of composite materials using an innovative, sustainable, energy-efficient, closed process that treats 100% of the composite materials to produce high-quality carbon fibers without releasing contaminant emissions.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3Njk2NjY1LTYuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Applications of the BCircular technology: Image credit: BCIRCULAR.&nbsp;<h3>3D Seed</h3>Recycles/grinds up recycled plastic which feeds directly into 3D printers - enabling objects to be created directly from waste.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pRpYYKXwqOg?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> <h3>Intermix Performance Materials</h3>A set of novel, highly potent compatibilizers to improve recycling efficiency for two of the most widely used plastic materials, polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA3OTA3NzY4LXBsYXN0aWMtYm90dGxlcy5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3>The Fotostax Motion&trade;️ &nbsp;</h3>Instantly capture and print moving and 3D photos directly from your phone using a phone case printer. This product is designed to be modular and upgradeable and to use recycled materials.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1655274710510-ezgif.com-gif-maker+%284%29.gif" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3>Healix</h3>Transforms used ropes and nets (HDPE and PP) from fishing and farming into pristine circular polymers for the global manufacturing supply chain.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjA2MjQxMTQ4LXdhbGRlbWFyLWJyYW5kdC0zTmNSbW04OFBiWS11bnNwbGFzaC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Healix is tackling plastic waste from the fishing industry. Image credit: Healix.Wevolver will follow the winners and finalists as they advance their technology and products. Sign up for our newsletter and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wevolverapp/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">social media</a> to get the latest updates.&nbsp;Thank you to everyone that entered the challenge, the jury, and the supporters.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">About the sponsor: Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials &amp; Growth Garage</h2>Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance materials in the form of semi-finished products and finished parts. The company has locations in 20 countries and more than 2,800 employees. Its specialty engineering thermoplastics and composites are superior in performance to metals and other materials and are used in a wide range of applications, primarily in the capital goods industry. The company is continuously developing new areas of applications in close cooperation with industry leaders in a wide variety of customer markets. The Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Group is well prepared to further expand its market leadership position.Growth Garage is a business accelerator program from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials. Our mission is to support and grow new ideas using our technologies and advanced engineering materials to help tackle some of today&#39;s biggest engineering challenges. We are offering the opportunity for engineers and innovators to pitch us their ideas and receive manufacturing support and services.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU1MjIxNDA2NjIxLW1jYW0gbG9nbyBiYW5uZXIgYm90dG9tLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

The winning teams each receive manufacturing and business support to take their design to the next level.

Recycling wind turbines and modular robots: The winners of the Circular Economy Challenge.

Faced with the pressing problem of climate change coupled with the impact of finite resources, the circular economy (CE) is a potential solution to many of the environmental, business and production issues in the world today.&nbsp;A CE is a business model of production and consumption which veers away from the traditional linear method of making something - consuming it - and throwing it away. Instead, it harnesses practices which are all about keeping materials in the economy, be it by repairing, reusing, sharing or recycling products to extend their lifespan.&nbsp;A CE can encompass many differing types of industries and resources, but all are based on the same principles<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" target="_blank" title="">[1]</a>. Firstly, the desire to eliminate pollution and waste. The second is to protect and regenerate nature, and the third is to enable the circulation of products and materials at their highest value while reducing waste.Global and national policies are evolving to enable the implementation of the &nbsp;CE, helping to make it one of the tools of tackling climate change. This was illustrated in 2020<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" target="_blank" title="">[2]</a>, when the European Commission announced its European Green Deal. The European Green Deal includes the new Circular Economy Action Plan which features proposals on more sustainable product design, reducing waste, and empowering consumers - such as with the right to repair<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" target="_blank" title="">[3]</a>.&nbsp;<h2>An environmental benefit and a business model</h2>A CE has many benefits, with the primary positive impact on the environment.<a href="#_msocom_1" id="_anchor_1" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_1" target="_blank"></a>By using waste as a feedstock for the production of new materials, fewer materials have to be consumed to produce new products, meaning energy use and extraction of raw materials are reduced and fewer products end up in incineration plants or landfill at the end of their life.&nbsp;Another, sometimes overlooked benefit, is to operational effectiveness and financial resilience. Companies which have established a CE model are able to reduce their dependence on raw material suppliers, especially during a time when supply chains are under increasing pressure<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" target="_blank" title="">[4]</a>.&nbsp;It also helps answer the problem of fossil resources being finite. Using waste as a resource will help mitigate against resource scarcity in the future.&nbsp;While a CE can be adopted for many different materials, it has huge potential for the plastics sector and its resulting impact on the environment. In this article, we will look at how the plastics industry is being impacted by the growth of the CE.<h2>The global impact of plastics&nbsp;</h2>Plastics are a vital product used for many different applications and their use has only been accelerated by the pandemic, with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks being produced in huge quantities. But this has also led to more waste, with an estimated 129 billion face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves needing to be disposed of each month<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" target="_blank" title="">[5]</a>.The wider impact of plastic on the world&rsquo;s oceans has also gained worldwide attention in recent years, and for good reason. Of the 300 million tons of plastic produced every year<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" target="_blank" title="">[6]</a>, at least 14 million tonnes end up in the ocean every year, with plastic making up 80% of all debris in oceans and waterways. This waste can harm sea creatures and also find its way into the human food chain.&nbsp;But there is also the underlying effect of plastic production on the environment too. Most plastics are made from fossil raw materials and are produced in plants which use fossil fuels to power them<a href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" target="_blank" title="">[7]</a>. Fossil fuel used for transport further contributes to the industry&rsquo;s carbon footprint. A report<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" target="_blank" title="">[8]</a> released by the environment group Beyond Plastics suggests that the production of plastics will release more greenhouse gas emissions than coal plants in the US by 2030. While not strictly part of the CE, the chemical industry is already working on solutions for this. Companies are shifting their energy supply more and more towards renewable energy and are using bio-based and recycled feedstocks for the production of plastics.<h2>Plastics and the circular economy&nbsp;</h2>It is generally accepted that a CE for plastics should be built around the following principles:<ul><li>Plastic can be reused, recycled, or composted in practice.</li><li>The use of plastic is fully decoupled from the consumption of finite resources.</li><li>Plastic is free of hazardous chemicals, and the health, safety, and rights of all people involved are respected.</li></ul><h2>Practical techniques</h2>But with those guiding principles in mind, what does that actually look like in practice?&nbsp;There are a few methods already being used which contribute to a CE for plastics and they centre around recycling and reuse.&nbsp;Reusable consumer products is one method that has gained popularity in recent years. From coffee shops to grocery bags, plastic products are no longer being thrown away after one single use but being reused on each occasion. Not only is this beneficial for the environment, it reduces production costs and raw material use for the company and increases brand loyalty.&nbsp;Recycling is another vital pillar of a CE for plastics - and one that can be extended to engineering-grade plastics that cannot be simply resued in the same manner as consumer plastic products.&nbsp;Plastic recycling falls into four main categories.&nbsp;<ul><li>Mechanical recycling is used for the physical recycling of plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene, which are typically used to make soft drinks bottles or containers. The process uses grinding, washing, sorting and reprocessing to repurpose plastic material for use as new products.</li><li>Chemical recycling is a process by which the material is broken down to its original chemical building blocks, so that they can be built back up again into new products.&nbsp;</li><li>Dissolution recycling is a recycling process where one polymer type in mixed plastics waste is dissolved in a solvent so it can be separated from the other polymer types and recovered with high purity.&nbsp;</li><li>Organic recycling uses the controlled microbiological treatment of biodegradable plastics waste under aerobic conditions (composting) or anaerobic conditions (biogasification).&nbsp;</li></ul>While the technology to enable the recycling and reusability of plastics exists and is effective, there are other factors that need to be introduced to really make CE as productive as it can possibly be: mainly product design and the introduction of recycling/reuse infrastructure.&nbsp;Product design is a big factor in producing items that can be reused and recycled. Along with the &lsquo;right to repair&rsquo; introduced by the European Union, it&rsquo;s essential that more products are designed with things like reusability and recycling in mind.It is also important for there to be a clear plan and system for the life cycle of plastics to be in place to enable recycling to happen, where used plastic is collected from consumers and sent to recycling facilities so the plastic can then be kept inside the economy.&nbsp;Designing the systems for parts and products to be returned to recycling facilities is core to achieving the CE. The loop of the systems should drive design decisions of the part, rather than being an add-on or bonus.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5MjQxNjU5MjI3LVAyODdfQkFTRl9OZXcgRW5lcmd5X09wb255XzJfMTZ4OS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Chemical recycling focuses on plastic waste that is not recycled mechanically for technological, economic, or ecological reasons. Image credit.:BASF.<h2>Changing mindset&nbsp;</h2>But there also needs to be a change in mindset both for companies and consumers. For decades, consumers have been used to the idea of using something and throwing it away, this has had a negative impact on the environment, but has also meant companies had an equally wasteful mindset. They were creating new, disposable products from scratch rather than using recycled materials. This not only had an impact on the environment but could prove more costly for firms too.&nbsp;As well as developing the infrastructure and technology to build an effective plastics CE, education has to be a factor, with consumers and wider society realising the benefits of a plastics CE, but companies also understanding the clear business case for it too.For companies, this means they have to re-evaluate how they think about their product lifecycle. Developing and implementing the technology &ndash; such as recycling technology &ndash; is not enough, they have to think more about the products they develop, their reusability, how easy or difficult they are to repair, and what happens to them at their end of life.&nbsp;A long-term view is also vital because initial investment is needed to implement recycling systems and technologies. But with the increasing importance of the green agenda across all aspects of society, investment now will produce dividends in the future.<hr><h2>The Circular Economy Challenge</h2>Wevolver, in partnership with Growth Garage, the business accelerator from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, and &nbsp;Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates, invites engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, startups, companies, and students to submit their ideas, technologies, and products as part of the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-circular-economy-challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2022 Circular Economy Challenge.</a>The challenge is looking for innovators throughout the&nbsp;plastics circular economy&nbsp;who want to make use of advanced low carbon footprint engineering plastics&nbsp;or have developed innovative recycling technologies for advanced engineering plastics.The winners of the challenge are invited to participate in a pilot program with Growth Garage, the business accelerator from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials to further develop their idea. The total value of this program is $25,000.&nbsp;The challenge is looking for participants in two key areas:&nbsp;1. Recycling Technology2. Products &amp; Parts&nbsp;For more information and how to submit to the challenge,<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-circular-economy-challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> head to the challenge page. </a><h3>About the sponsors:&nbsp;</h3>The Circular Economy Challenge is sponsored by Mitsubishi Chemical&rsquo;s group companies Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, and Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates.&nbsp;Growth Garage is a business accelerator program from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials that supports and helps to grow new ideas to tackle some of today&#39;s biggest engineering challenges.&nbsp;<h3>Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation&nbsp;</h3>Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has the global organization and infrastructure to leverage local and global synergies through the vast network of affiliated companies. With over 40,000 employees at 351 affiliates in more than 30 different countries, Mitsubishi Chemical provides a comprehensive range of solutions based on chemistry that contribute to solve social and environmental issues. Our vision is to realize the sustainable well-being of people, society, and our planet Earth &ndash; we call it KAITEKI.<h3 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Mitsubishi Chemical Europe</h3>Mitsubishi Chemical Europe is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. The company, with headquarters in D&uuml;sseldorf, offers and sells highly developed chemical-based products. The portfolio includes performance polymers, carbon fiber &amp; composites, polyester films, aluminum, and metal composite sheets as well as semiconductor solutions for a wide range of industries. In an additional role as regional headquarters for Europe, located in Frankfurt, it promotes the exchange between group companies in Europe and management in Japan. The stem of all activities is to contribute to the KAITEKI corporate philosophy, which strives for sustainability for people, society, and the earth.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5MjQzNzM3NjMyLU1DQU0gQ0UgYmFubmVyIGRlc2t0b3AgKDEyODAgw5cgMzAwcHgpICgyKS5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> <h2>&nbsp;References and further reading&nbsp;</h2><div id="ftn1">1. <a href="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2022/01/a-new-barometer-of-global-supply-chain-pressures/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview</a></div><div id="ftn2">2. <a href="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2022/01/a-new-barometer-of-global-supply-chain-pressures/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ec.europa.eu/environment/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en</a></div><div id="ftn3">3. <a href="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2022/01/a-new-barometer-of-global-supply-chain-pressures/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://repair.eu/</a></div><div id="ftn4">4. <a href="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2022/01/a-new-barometer-of-global-supply-chain-pressures/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2022/01/a-new-barometer-of-global-supply-chain-pressures/</a></div><div id="ftn5">5. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00824-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00824-1</a></div><div id="ftn6">6. <a href="https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/marine-plastic-pollution#:~:text=The%20most%20visible%20impacts%20of,stomachs%20become%20filled%20with%20plastic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/marine-plastic-pollution#:~:text=The%20most%20visible%20impacts%20of,stomachs%20become%20filled%20with%20plastic</a><a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title="" target="_blank"></a>7. <a href="https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics#:~:text=How%20does%20plastic%20harm%20the,%2C%20oil%20and%20even%20coal" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics#:~:text=How%20does%20plastic%20harm%20the,%2C%20oil%20and%20even%20coal</a></div><div id="ftn8">8. <a href="https://www.beyondplastics.org/plastics-and-climate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.beyondplastics.org/plastics-and-climate</a></div>

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