<p><strong>EPFL scientists have developed a new, PET-like plastic that is easily made from the non-edible parts of plants. The plastic is tough, heat-resistant, and a good barrier to gases like oxygen, making it a promising candidate for food packaging. Due to its structure, the new plastic can also be chemically recycled and degrade back to harmless sugars in the environment.&nbsp;</strong></p><p id="isPasted">It is becoming increasingly obvious that moving away from fossil fuels and avoiding the accumulation of plastics in the environment are key to addressing the challenge of climate change. In that vein, there are considerable efforts to develop degradable or recyclable polymers made from non-edible plant material referred to as &ldquo;lignocellulosic biomass&rdquo;.</p><p>Of course, producing competitive biomass-based plastics is not straightforward. There is a reason that conventional plastics are so widespread, as they combine low cost, heat stability, mechanical strength, processability, and compatibility &ndash; features that any alternative plastic replacements must match or surpass. And so far, the task has been challenging.</p><p>Until now, that is. Scientists led by Professor Jeremy Luterbacher at EPFL&rsquo;s School of Basic Sciences have successfully developed a biomass-derived plastic, similar to PET, that meets the criteria for replacing several current plastics while also being more environmentally friendly.</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 768px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1657285739569-6e37cc10.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner">Highly transparent and flexible strand of the bioplastic. Credit: Lorenz Manker&nbsp;</span></span></span></p><p id="isPasted">&ldquo;We essentially just &lsquo;cook&rsquo; wood or other non-edible plant material, such as agricultural wastes, in inexpensive chemicals to produce the plastic precursor in one step,&rdquo; says Luterbacher. &ldquo;By keeping the sugar structure intact within the molecular structure of the plastic, the chemistry is much simpler than current alternatives.&rdquo;</p><p>The technique is based on a discovery that Luterbacher and his colleagues published <a href="https://actu.epfl.ch/news/turning-biofuel-waste-into-wealth-in-a-single-step/" target="_blank">in 2016</a>, where adding an aldehyde could stabilize certain fractions of plant material and avoid their destruction during extraction. By repurposing this chemistry, the researchers were able to rebuild a new useful bio-based chemical as a plastic precursor.</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 768px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1657285759962-6049d711.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner">Processing of the bioplastic by extrusion to make fibers for 3D-printing. Credit Maxime Hedou.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p><p id="isPasted">&ldquo;By using a different aldehyde &ndash; glyoxylic acid instead of formaldehyde &ndash; we could simply clip &lsquo;sticky&rsquo; groups onto both sides of the sugar molecules, which then allows them to act as plastic building blocks,&rdquo; says Lorenz Manker, the study&rsquo;s first author. &ldquo;By using this simple technique, we are able to convert up to 25% of the weight of agricultural waste, or 95% of purified sugar, into plastic.&rdquo;</p><p>The well-rounded properties of these plastics could allow them to be used in applications ranging from packaging and textiles to medicine and electronics. The researchers have already made packaging films, fibers that could be spun into clothing or other textiles, and filaments for 3D-printing.</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 768px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1657285778244-2a3e2c42.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner">Lorenz Manker, the study&#39;s lead author, holding a 3D-printed EPFL logo made with the bioplastic. Credit: Stefania Bertella.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p><p id="isPasted">&ldquo;The plastic has very exciting properties, notably for applications like food packaging,&rdquo; says Luterbacher. &ldquo;And what makes the plastic unique is the presence of the intact sugar structure. This makes it incredibly easy to make because you don&rsquo;t have to modify what nature gives you, and simple to degrade because it can go back to a molecule that is already abundant in nature.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>Other contributors</strong></p><ul><li>EPFL Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites</li><li>University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria)</li><li>Competence Center for Wood Composites &amp; Wood Chemistry (Austria)</li><li>EPFL Industrial Energy Systems Laboratory</li></ul>

A 3D-printed “leaf” made with the new bioplastic. Credit: Alain Herzog (EPFL)

EPFL scientists have developed a new, PET-like plastic that is easily made from the non-edible parts of plants. The plastic is tough, heat-resistant, and a good barrier to gases like oxygen, making it a promising candidate for food packaging.

New PET-like plastic made directly from waste biomass

<section id="isPasted"><p><strong><a href="https://www.core-chemistry.com/" target="_blank">CORE</a>, a student team from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), has developed a new installation that can use artificial intelligence (AI) to recognize batteries in waste streams. CORE aims to use TEMNOS - as the installation is called - to actually separate waste in the future. Not only does this offer opportunities for better recycling of valuable raw materials from batteries, but hazardous waste fires due to battery-containing products occur more frequently when recycling these waste streams. These fires can be prevented with the new installation.</strong></p></section><section tabindex="-1"><p>CORE&#39;s TEMNOS installation addresses two different challenges. On the one hand, the installation aims to improve the current recycling process. By better sorting at the front end of the process, more efficient recycling becomes possible further down the line. This makes it possible to recover more raw materials from waste streams. The second challenge is to prevent waste fires in (e-waste) waste processing, where by far the most fires are caused by hidden batteries.</p><h2>Recovering Raw Materials</h2><p>Better recycling is a hot topic due to rising global metal prices. An improved sorting process therefore prevents batteries ending up in the wrong place in the chain. By efficiently detecting and sorting batteries earlier in the chain, TEMNOS offers opportunities to recover more raw materials, such as rare metals.</p><h2>Battery Burning</h2><p>In the current waste streams, batteries are detected less efficiently. This can result in large fires as batteries become damaged and spontaneously combust. In recent years we have seen a sharp increase in the number of waste fires in Europe.</p><p>Research has shown that the main causes of these are heating and the presence of flammable substances. The latter includes batteries, the cause of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2020/12/17/bijlage-1-verkenning-inzameling-li-ion-batterijen#:~:text=hier%3A%20Home%20Documenten-,Verkennend%20Onderzoek%20InzamelingLithium%2DIon%20Batterijenin%20Nederland,batterijen%20in%20consumentengoederen%20te%20verlagen." target="_blank">49 of the 53</a> fires at European companies that recycle electronic devices. These fires sometimes also release hazardous substances.</p><p>It is not only in the recycling industry that battery fires play a major role. In the metal industry, it is the number one cause of fires. It also ranks as high as spot three in scrap paper companies. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the cause may be the low percentage of batteries collected.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2020/12/17/bijlage-1-verkenning-inzameling-li-ion-batterijen#:~:text=hier%3A%20Home%20Documenten-,Verkennend%20Onderzoek%20InzamelingLithium%2DIon%20Batterijenin%20Nederland,batterijen%20in%20consumentengoederen%20te%20verlagen." target="_blank">Only 24 percent</a> of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in the Netherlands are taken away. The rest end up among PMD waste, residual waste and waste paper, resulting in a possible battery fire.</p></section><section tabindex="-1"><h2>Collaboration with waste management industry</h2><p>Apart from all the immediate risks of waste fires, reducing losses of precious metals such as cobalt is reason enough for Team CORE to tackle the problem.</p><p>The TEMNOS project is a follow-up to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/storage/electrical-engineering/faculteit/news-and-events/news-overview/12-10-2021-tu-eindhoven-students-present-shredder-that-prevents-battery-fires/" target="_blank">TITAN project</a>, also by CORE students. TITAN is a shredder to convert battery-containing products to a plastic-metal mix without causing a fire. TITAN still required salts, an additional pollutant in the process. TEMNOS enables us to treat only the hazardous streams and process the safe waste streams through existing routes.</p><p>Identifying battery-containing products can be done in several ways. When it comes to phones and tablets, much can already be sorted by means of visual recognition which recognizes whether a phone has a removable battery or not and whether that battery has actually been removed. This application is currently being developed in a pilot with Huiskes Metaal B.V. in Waalwijk.</p><p>To sort batteries into more complex streams, such as toothbrushes, music boxes and other electronic devices, more is needed, such as X-ray technology. In this way it will be possible to see the specific location of the battery in the device and automatically remove it.</p><h2>A unique collaboration</h2><p>To make this kind of project possible, collaborations between education and industry are crucial. Therefore, the student team CORE is collaborating with <a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/research/institutes/eindhoven-artificial-intelligence-systems-institute/" target="_blank">EAISI</a>, the AI institute of Eindhoven University of Technology, to further develop the models. In addition, direct collaboration with companies such as <a href="https://huiskes.com/" target="_blank">Huiskes</a> and <a href="https://wecycle.nl/" target="_blank">Wecycle</a> is crucial to understand the market and achieve the greatest possible social impact.</p><hr><p><style type="text/css" id="isPasted"></style><style type="text/css"></style><span data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":3,"12":0}' data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"This article was first published here"}'>This article was first published here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/07-06-2022-tu-eindhoven-students-detect-batteries-in-waste-streams-with-ai/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/07-06-2022-tu-eindhoven-students-detect-batteries-in-waste-streams-with-ai/</a></span></p></section>

Team CORE presents new system using AI technology to detect batteries in waste streams to prevent waste fires

Students detect batteries in waste streams with AI

<p id="isPasted">Replacing today&rsquo;s cement is one of the hardest challenges on the journey to a safe climate with zero emissions. There are many options to make cement with reduced emissions, mainly based on mixing new reactive cement (clinker) with other supplementary materials. However, until now, it has not been possible to make the reactive component of cement without emissions. The new invention achieves this for the first time within the parameters of established industrial processes.</p><p>The inspiration for Cambridge Electric Cement struck inventor Cyrille Dunant, when he noticed that the chemistry of used cement is virtually identical to that of the lime-flux used in conventional steel recycling processes. The new cement is therefore made in a virtuous recycling loop, that not only eliminates the emissions of cement production, but also saves raw materials, and even reduces the emissions required in making lime-flux.</p><p>The new process begins with concrete waste from demolition of old buildings. This is crushed, to separate the stones and sand that form concrete from the mixture of cement powder and water that bind them together. The old cement powder is then used instead of lime-flux in steel recycling. As the steel melts, the flux forms a slag that floats on the liquid steel, to protect it from oxygen in the air. After the recycled steel is tapped off, the liquid slag is cooled rapidly in air, and ground up into a powder which is virtually identical to the clinker which is the basis of new Portland cement. In pilot-scale trials of the new process, the Cambridge team have demonstrated this combined recycling process, and the results show that it has the chemical composition of a clinker made with today&#39;s process.</p><p>The new cement was invented as part of the large multi-university <a href="http://www.ukfires.org/" target="_blank">UK FIRES</a> programme led by Professor Allwood, which aims to enable a rapid transition to zero emissions based on using today&rsquo;s technologies differently, rather than waiting for the new energy technologies of hydrogen and carbon storage. Invention of the cement has been rewarded with a new research grant of &pound;1.7m from EPSRC, to allow the inventors to collaborate with Dr Zushu Li at Warwick University and Dr Rupert Myers at Imperial College, to reveal the underlying science behind the new process. The new grant will fund an additional team of researchers, to probe the range of concrete wastes that can be processed into Cambridge Electric Cement, evaluate how the process interacts with steel making, and confirm the performance of the resulting material.</p><p>Professor Allwood said &lsquo;If Cambridge Electric Cement lives up to the promise it has shown in early laboratory trials, it could be a turning point in the journey to a safe future climate. Combining steel and cement recycling in a single process powered by renewable electricity, this could secure the supply of the basic materials of construction to support the infrastructure of a zero emissions world and to enable economic development where it is most needed.&rsquo;</p>

Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel recycling process. For the Cambridge Electric Cement process this material will be cooled to make Portland Cement clinker. Credit: UKFIRES

Three Cambridge engineers, Dr Cyrille Dunant, Dr Pippa Horton and Professor Julian Allwood, have filed a patent and been awarded new research funding for their invention of the world’s first ever zero-emissions cement.

Engineers invent world's first zero emissions cement

<p id="isPasted">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;</p><p>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;</p><p>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=""><sup>[1]</sup></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.</p><p>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=""><sup>[2]</sup></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=""><sup>[3]</sup></a>.&nbsp;</p><h2>An environmental benefit and a business model</h2><p>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></p><p>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;</p><p>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=""><sup>[4]</sup></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>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;</p><p>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.</p><h2>The global impact of plastics&nbsp;</h2><p>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=""><sup>[5]</sup></a>.</p><p>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=""><sup>[6]</sup></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;</p><p>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=""><sup>[7]</sup></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=""><sup>[8]</sup></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.</p><h2>Plastics and the circular economy&nbsp;</h2><p>It is generally accepted that a CE for plastics should be built around the following principles:</p><ul><li><span lang="EN-GB">Plastic can be reused, recycled, or composted in practice.</span></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><p>But with those guiding principles in mind, what does that actually look like in practice?&nbsp;</p><p>There are a few methods already being used which contribute to a CE for plastics and they centre around recycling and reuse.&nbsp;</p><p>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;</p><p>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;</p><p>Plastic recycling falls into four main categories.&nbsp;</p><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><p>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;</p><p>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.</p><p>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;</p><p>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;</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 768px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5MjQxNjU5MjI3LVAyODdfQkFTRl9OZXcgRW5lcmd5X09wb255XzJfMTZ4OS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Chemical recycling focuses on plastic waste that is not recycled mechanically for technological, economic, or ecological reasons. Image credit.:BASF.</span></span></span></p><h2>Changing mindset&nbsp;</h2><p>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;</p><p>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.</p><p>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;</p><p>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.</p><hr><h2>The Circular Economy Challenge</h2><p>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></p><p>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.</p><p>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;</p><p>The challenge is looking for participants in two key areas:&nbsp;</p><p>1. Recycling Technology</p><p>2. Products &amp; Parts&nbsp;</p><p>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></p><h3><em>About the sponsors:&nbsp;</em></h3><p><em>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;</em></p><p><em>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;</em></p><h3><em>Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation&nbsp;</em></h3><p><em>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.</em></p><h3 dir="ltr" id="isPasted"><em>Mitsubishi Chemical Europe</em></h3><p dir="ltr"><em>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.</em></p><p dir="ltr"><em><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5MjQzNzM3NjMyLU1DQU0gQ0UgYmFubmVyIGRlc2t0b3AgKDEyODAgw5cgMzAwcHgpICgyKS5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></em><br></p><h2><em>&nbsp;References and further reading&nbsp;</em></h2><div id="ftn1"><p>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></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p>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></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p>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></p></div><div id="ftn4"><p>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></p></div><div id="ftn5"><p>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></p></div><div id="ftn6"><p>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></p><p>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></p></div><div id="ftn8"><p>8. <a href="https://www.beyondplastics.org/plastics-and-climate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.beyondplastics.org/plastics-and-climate</a></p></div>

A closed-loop system for engineering quality plastics provides dividends to products, economy and people.  

The circular economy for low carbon footprint plastics

<p>In this episode, we talk about how a radical change in plastic composition can significantly minimize waste when recycling plastics without compromising material properties and a first of its kind smart fabric with customizable properties which serves as the first step towards a whole new market. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/e67f6081-3650-42ad-847d-ccb27822c445?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe></span>&nbsp;</p><hr><p>This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www2.mouser.com/" id="isPasted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5MTUyMjkzNTUxLU1vdXNlci1zcG9uc29yLTEtYS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><hr><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3><p>(1:45) - Tackling Plastic Problem</p><p>(16:10) -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/a-flexible-foldable-highly-integrated-smart-fabric-could-herald-the-future-of-the-cuddlier-internet-of-things" target="_blank">Smart Fabrics</a></p><p>Episode 64 was brought to you by Mouser Electronics, Farbod &amp; Daniel’s favorite electronics distributor. Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mouser.com/applications/touch_dispersive_signal/" target="_blank">here</a> to read the article explaining dispersive signal touch technology.</p><p>Here’s the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/podcast-why-plastic-eating-enzymes-will-save-our-oceans" target="_blank">link&nbsp;</a>to the episode mentioned that discussed plastic eating enzymes.</p><hr><p id="isPasted">About the podcast:</p><p>Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;</p><p>To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.</p><p>Be sure to give us a follow and review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!</p>

Like the pearls of a pearl necklace, molecular building blocks of polymer chains can be recovered and fully reused. (Symbol image: Adobe Stock)

In this episode, we talk about how a radical change in plastic composition can significantly minimize waste when recycling plastics without compromising material properties and a first of its kind smart fabric with customizable properties which serves as the first step towards a whole new market

Podcast: Solution To The Plastic Problem & Smart Fabrics

<p>The Challenge is now closed. Read about the winners <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/recycling-wind-turbines-and-modular-robots-the-winners-of-the-circular-economy-challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><hr><p dir="ltr" id="isPasted"><em>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 <a href="https://growthgarage.mcam.com/apply-now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">submit</a> their ideas, technologies, and products as part of the 2022 Circular Economy Challenge.&nbsp;</em></p><blockquote><p dir="ltr">The circular economy decouples economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. It is a resilient closed-loop system that leverages innovation to eliminate waste and circulate materials. It is a new way of doing business that proposes innovative thinking about economic activity. This 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;</p></blockquote><p dir="ltr">We are 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.</p><p dir="ltr"><strong>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 take their idea to the next level.&nbsp;</strong><strong>The total value of this program is $25,000.&nbsp;</strong></p><p dir="ltr">The challenge is looking for participants in two key areas:&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">1. Recycling Technology</p><p dir="ltr">2. Products &amp; Parts.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr">Recycling Technology</h2><p dir="ltr">Mechanical and/or chemical recycling is key to produce sustainable thermoplastic polymers, minimize landfill, close-the-loop, and facilitate the implementation of the Circular Economy.</p><p dir="ltr">Are you an innovator that has developed technology that enables the recycling of engineering plastics or improves their recycling process? &nbsp;Does your technology improve the efficiency of mechanical recycling (collecting, identification, sorting, cleaning, grinding, regranulation, etc), or is a novel chemical or physical recycling technology?</p><h3 dir="ltr">Submission requirements:</h3><ul><li dir="ltr">Are you able to test materials provided by Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials?</li><li dir="ltr">Have you previously tested customer materials?</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 766px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ3MjQ0MDMzMDU5LVJlY3ljbGluZyBTb2x1dGlvbnMgNTkxeDM4NC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Recycling innovators can get access to materials to test their technology. &nbsp;Image credit: POM</span></span></span></h3><h2>Parts or products</h2><p dir="ltr">Are you a product designer that works within or wants to join the circular economy? Have you designed, developed, or manufactured products or parts with low carbon footprint engineering plastics for the circular economy?</p><h3 dir="ltr">Submission requirements:</h3><ul><li dir="ltr">Do you have parts or applications that are manufactured from thermoplastic polymers via CNC machining, injection molding, or 3D Printing (FFF) and have the intention to reduce the carbon footprint of the products/parts?</li><li dir="ltr">Secondly, you have (or intend to) implement a circular business model and are looking for a partner that supports the recycling of the thermoplastic polymer waste from production (cut-offs, swarfs, runners, etc.) or even after recollecting your products/parts end-of-life.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 dir="ltr"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 766px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ3MjQ0NzI4Njc1LW1jYW0gcGFydHMuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Parts manufacturers can gain access to manufacturing and design support to produce a prototype.&nbsp;</span></span></span></h2><h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Submit to The Circular Economy Challenge</h2><p dir="ltr">To enter the Challenge please complete the entry form before Wednesday 18 May. You are asked to provide personal details, a text description of your entry, and supporting images.</p><p><a class="button-main-action" href="https://bit.ly/3wGi6OC" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>SUBMIT TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY CHALLENGE HERE</strong></a></p><h3 dir="ltr">Early-Bird Submissions</h3><p dir="ltr">Submit to the challenge <strong>before Monday 22nd April 2022</strong>, and Growth Garage engineers will review your entry for feedback and direction. You can then adjust your design and re-enter your submission.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Circular Economy Challenge Prizes</h2><p dir="ltr">There will be an overall winner awarded in each category of the Circular Economy Challenge as well as a student prize and a Wevolver community vote winner.<br><br>As an overall category winner, you will enter the Growth Garage acceleration program and get access to the following support valued at $25,000.&nbsp;</p><ul><li dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Joint test of your technology or service to assess the technical and commercial feasibility to create a proofpoint.</li><li dir="ltr">Access to sustainable advanced materials (low carbon footprint thermoplastic polymers).</li><li dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Access to Industry experts and Circular Economy experts (regulatory, PCF, LCA,&hellip;)</li><li dir="ltr">Manufacturing and design support to produce a prototype.</li><li dir="ltr">Scale-up plan manufacturing and support.</li><li dir="ltr">Business Intelligence.</li><li dir="ltr">Reflection on your Value Proposition &amp; Business Model.</li><li dir="ltr">Joint Marketing.</li></ul><p>The student prize winner will receive $5,000 in support and the community vote winner will receive $10,000 in support.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr">Key dates:</h2><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Event</strong></td><td><strong>Date</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Challenge Opens</td><td>Tuesday 22 March 2022</td></tr><tr><td>CE Challenge Introduction Webinar</td><td>Thursday 31 March 2022</td></tr><tr><td>A Deeper Look at The Circular Economy Webinar</td><td>Tuesday 19 April 2022. Updated!</td></tr><tr><td>Early Bird Submissions Close</td><td>Sunday 22 April 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Challenge Closes</td><td>Sunday 22 May 2022. 12 Midnight CET</td></tr><tr><td>Finalists Announced</td><td>Tuesday 31 May 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Winner Announcement Event</td><td>Tuesday 14 June 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>More information</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Webinars</h3><p dir="ltr">Wevolver and Chemical Advanced Materials are hosting two webinars prior to the Challenge deadline.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Webinar 1: <em>Introduction to the&nbsp;</em><em>Circular Economy Challenge.&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p dir="ltr" id="isPasted"><em>Thursday 31 March | 16.30 CET</em></p><p dir="ltr">This webinar will provide a deeper overview of the challenge including details on the role of Growth Garage, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, and Wevolver. It will also include an introduction to Circular Economy as well as hints and tips on putting together a strong submission. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2216473431113/WN_ZZMI5N-QQoiK7jxTaOKneA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><br>Watch the first webinar here:</p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-lKxYX8GH7c?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-1_19="true" id="501140473" data-gtm-yt-inspected-11="true" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></span><br></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Webinar 2: <em>A Deeper Look at The Circular Economy</em></strong></p><p dir="ltr" id="isPasted"><em>Tuesday 19 April | 16.30 CET &nbsp;<strong>NEW DATE</strong><strong>!</strong></em></p><p dir="ltr">In this webinar, Dr. Lisa Weigand from Mitsubishi Chemical Europe outlined what the circular economy is and how the company is working to accelerate its implementation. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1516473439938/WN_iMkUAWbDS_iFo8MIp1HIEQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Register for the webinar here.</a></p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WgFuX_VyUEY?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-gtm-yt-inspected-1_19="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-11="true" id="673747121" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></span><br></p><p dir="ltr"><a class="button-main-action" href="https://bit.ly/3wGi6OC" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Submit to the Circular Economy Challenge now</strong></a></p><h2 dir="ltr">The Circular Economy Challenge Entry Pack</h2><p id="isPasted">The Entry Pack ensures that you have at your fingertips all the information you&rsquo;ll need to submit a successful entry that grabs the judges&rsquo; attention and includes:</p><ul><li>Comprehensive information about the challenge, which materials and technologies are in scope, and the two different categories you can enter.</li><li>A detailed checklist and guide to what needs to be included in your submission, and the benefits of being an early-bird entrant.</li><li>Plus, valuable context will help you develop your pitch, including tips from previous winners on how to produce a successful entry.</li></ul><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3iLzI3o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Download the Circular Economy Challenge Entry Pack here</strong></a></p><h2 dir="ltr">The Judging Criteria</h2><p dir="ltr">The &nbsp;Growth Garage Circular Economy Challenge will reward projects that demonstrate an ability to accelerate the implementation of the circular economy. Successful designs will meet submission requirements based on the <a href="https://www.mcam.com/en/sustainability" target="_blank">KAITEKI principles</a> of Feasibility and Scalability, Sustainability, and Circularity.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">The jury will look at the feasibility of your idea from technical and commercial standpoints. We&rsquo;ll then examine its scalability from the perspective of both your manufacturing methodology and the attributes of your team. And finally, we&rsquo;ll consider its impact on the Circular Economy. The full judging criteria can be viewed <a href="https://growthgarage.mcam.com/our-challenges" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;</p><h2>Meet the Jury</h2><p>The jury is made up of a team of engineers, materials experts, and business development leaders. Together they form several decades of experience.&nbsp;</p><h3>Dr. Lisa Weigand</h3><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ3MzU3MDYxMjY0LUp1cnkgcGhvdG8gKDE5MjAgw5cgMzYwcHgpLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p>Advisor Circular Economy at Mitsubishi Chemical Europe</p><h3>Henning Bloech&nbsp;</h3><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ3NTA4MTg5NDg5LUhlbm5pbmcucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p>Global Director Sustainable SolutionsMitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials</p><h3>Andy Rudd&nbsp;</h3><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ3NTA4MjM0MzcwLUFuZHkucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p>Global New Business Development ManagerMitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates</p><h3>Dr. Peter Walde<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzcyODk4NDk2LTEwLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>Founder &amp; CEO at MAPEGY.</p><h3>Jules Harings<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzcyOTY5MTIxLTA2LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>Associate Professor &amp; Group leader Macromolecular Physics &amp; Technology at AMIBM / Maastricht University.</p><h3>Tim Vorage<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzA5NDE4MTc5LVRJbSBJSS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>Global Growth Manager at Growth Garage/Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials.</p><h3>Patrick Suel<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzA5MjY4MjU1LXBhdHJpY2suanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>Funding President at Diamond Edge Ventures. &nbsp;</p><h3>Mark Geljon<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzczMTU4NTk3LTA3LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>Customer Experience leader, change-maker, and social entrepreneur.</p><h3>Randy White<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzA5MjA2MTkwLXJhbmR5LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>President -Engineered Solutions at Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials.</p><h3>Simon McEvoy<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzczMTg1MzgxLTA4LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>UK Head of Strategy &amp; UX at Omobono.</p><h3>Bram Geenen<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMxNzA5MjQ4MjE5LUJyYW0uanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h3><p>CEO and co-founder of Wevolver.</p><p><a class="button-main-action" href="https://bit.ly/3wGi6OC" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Submit to the circular economy challenge here</strong></a></p><h2 dir="ltr"><em>About the sponsors:</em></h2><h3 dir="ltr"><em>Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials &amp; Growth Garage</em></h3><p dir="ltr"><em>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.</em></p><p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p><h3 dir="ltr"><em>Mitsubishi Chemical Europe</em></h3><p dir="ltr"><em>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.</em></p><p dir="ltr"><br></p><p><br></p>

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