VITO’s Post

Inexpensive Multifunctional Composite Paves the Way to a Circular Economy Made from eco-friendly elements, this innovative material holds promise for energy storage, hydrogen production, and environmental remediation https://lnkd.in/ed3MbudD #StatNano #NBIC #Nanotechnology #CircularEconomy #CompositeMaterials #EnergyStorage #HydrogenProduction #EcoFriendly #SustainableTech #Innovation

♻️ Rethinking the circular economy – bringing rare earths back into the cycle Rare earth elements are valuable resources, essential for future technologies such as hydrogen electrolysis cells, yet they remain difficult to extract – and even harder to recycle. A research team at TU Bergakademie Freiberg has now developed a process that tackles exactly this challenge. 🔬 Using hydrometallurgical methods, elements such as scandium, lanthanum and cerium can be recovered from discarded solid oxide electrolysis cells and reused instead of ending up as scrap. 🌍 The key advantage: this process closes the raw material loop for green hydrogen, reduces the need for primary resources and improves the overall environmental balance. 💧 A complementary life-cycle assessment further evaluates the sustainability of the entire recycling process. This demonstrates how technological innovation and sustainable resource management go hand in hand – not only in research, but also in laboratory design and operation. 🌱 With our Waldner Green Basics approach, we actively support these same principles: Reducing waste and material consumption Reusing and returning resources to the cycle Considering CO₂ balance and life cycle impacts holistically 👉 Learn more about sustainable laboratory design and circular thinking in the lab: https://lnkd.in/dATRJ9rp #GreenLab #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #ResourceEfficiency #Waldner #Innovation #WasteReduction

♻️ Turning Waste into Walkways: Ghent Researchers Create Eco-Friendly Paving Stones from Waste Ash The pilot project is part of AshCycle Project, a Horizon Europe initiative focused on transforming incineration ash into sustainable raw materials for low-carbon construction. This pilot project brings together a Belgian consortium, including Veolia, Ghent University, ResourceFull, Orbix, and SECO. Ash from incineration plants is processed in Grimbergen and tested in Ghent, showcasing a circular approach to construction materials. This innovative technology could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 20 megatonnes annually on a European scale! A meaningful step toward building greener, more sustainable cities from the ground up. 🌍👣 Read the full article here - https://lnkd.in/eVY8CQvD #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #ConstructionTech #GreenBuilding #Innovation #ClimateAction

New R&D Direction at Circle Solution In 2026, we will launch a research program exploring CO₂ storage resulting from the use of recycled biobased materials in new microfoam structures. We aim to understand how stored biogenic carbon can be retained for longer periods within these materials, and what this means for structural performance and climate impact. The project integrates material development and CO₂ sequestration within a circular economy context. #CO2Storage #Biobased #CircularEconomy #Recycling #Innovation #MaterialScience #RandD #Sustainability #CircleSolution

New R&D Direction at Circle Solution In 2026, we will launch a research program exploring CO₂ storage resulting from the use of recycled biobased materials in new microfoam structures. We aim to understand how stored biogenic carbon can be retained for longer periods within these materials, and what this means for structural performance and climate impact. The project integrates material development and CO₂ sequestration within a circular economy context. #CO2Storage #Biobased #CircularEconomy #Recycling #Innovation #MaterialScience #RandD #Sustainability #CircleSolution

At Beyond Composite, we transform ocean challenges into regenerative solutions. We design modular artificial reefs built from recovered ocean plastics, turning marine waste into structures that nurture life below the surface. Each module is engineered for adaptability, allowing integration with offshore renewable energy systems, whether wind or solar, to create multifunctional marine infrastructures. Our reefs are more than ecological restoration tools. Using biodegradable substrates, they support algae growth that enhances biodiversity and drives natural carbon sequestration. As the material gradually decomposes, it settles into the seabed, enriching ecosystems and locking carbon back into the ocean floor. This is circular design in motion. Technology that regenerates, not depletes. Beyond Composite: engineering a living ocean for a sustainable blue future. #BeyondComposite #PrismoreCapital #AdvancedMaterials #EngineeringExcellence #Innovation #SustainableTechnology #NextGenMaterials #HighPerformance #IndustrialInnovation

🌍 Imagine a world where food waste doesn’t just rot, it powers our future. 💡 Carvey Ehren Maigue, an engineering student from Mapua University, has won the inaugural James Dyson Sustainability Award for AuReus, a solar panel system that generates clean energy while reducing food waste. Inspired by the aurora borealis, this invention is a breakthrough in sustainable design. 🌌⚡ 🔹 How it works: -Uses luminescent particles from discarded crops to capture ultraviolet (UV) light. -Works even on cloudy days, unlike traditional panels that need direct sunlight. -Re-emits UV as visible light, which is then converted into electricity via photovoltaic cells. -Can be applied to windows, facades, or walls, turning buildings into vertical solar farms. -Produces energy nearly 50% of the time, compared to just 15–22% for conventional panels. This innovation is a strong example of frugal sustainability. By turning wasted harvests into energy, AuReus not only helps cities transition to renewable power but also creates new income streams for farmers affected by climate change. A win for people, farmers, and the planet. 🌱✨ Source: https://lnkd.in/g-yhkJ9M #FrugalInnovation #CleanEnergy #AuReus #DysonAward #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #InnovationForGood #TechSage #CRIFT #FSM

How can waste management play its role in the unfolding of a more circular economy? The CircWtE project has worked on this important question for over four years.    We've now compiled our key results, insights and recommendations in one place!    You can find it here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8UmUsYz SINTEF Energy Research SINTEF Industry Cansu Birgen Chipo Peveling Elisa Magnanelli Inge Johansson Irene Vik Johan Berg Pettersen Kari Anne Sølvernes Kim Rainer Mattson Liang Wang Mari Roald Bern Marie Bysveen Peter Kaiser Sigrun J. Jahren Tuva Grytli Trond Norum Øyvind Skreiberg Civac Franzefoss AS NOAH AS Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) TAFJORD Trøndelag fylkeskommune (Photo: REG Oslo)

Anton Nikiforov presented our latest progress at the SUSPLASM meeting, held during the first Industrial Advisory Board. Within the SUSPLASM project, we focus on developing sustainable, low-carbon thermal plasma processing technologies to valorise challenging waste streams. 🔗 Learn more about the project: SUSPLASM – Moonshot Flanders

A 400 m² slab of eco-concrete made with recycled aggregates, monitored using the eCORDS/Concrete Durability Monitoring system, marks a new step toward more sustainable and traceable port infrastructures. The HESTRUK Project, driven by the Port Authority of Bilbao (BilbaoPort), analyzes the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of using recycled materials and embedded sensors in real-world environments. With CDM, durability is measured, predicted, and optimized in real time. 👉 Check the document below to discover how CDM is transforming the future of sustainable concrete. #CDM #eCORDS #Innovation #Sustainability #Concrete #CircularEconomy #Durability #Infrastructure #PortOfBilbao #Technology