Circular Economy

Plastics in menstrual products affect hygiene, comfort, additive exposure, PFAS concerns, and environmental impact.

In a project with Audi AG, Fraunhofer IVV demonstrated how solvent-based recycling can recover high-quality PC/ABS from automotive waste.

Gasification of automotive shredder plastic with biomass lowers CO₂ emissions and creates circular feedstock for chemical production.

Circularity targets are moving recycled polymers into more automotive applications, but vehicle cabins remain among the most demanding.

PVDF separators improve lithium-ion battery safety, electrolyte uptake, and thermal stability for EV and grid energy storage.

As an additive in polylactide (PLA) biocomposite films, spent coffee grounds (SCG) can improve flexibility and toughness while preventing combustion.

Regulation is reshaping plastics investment by compressing decision cycles, raising compliance costs, and redirecting capital across the value chain.

Engineers eliminate calcination emissions by encapsulating waste inside cross-linked polymers, creating load-bearing, modular blocks for rapid deployment.

Repeated washing, handling, and abrasion can damage reusable plastic packaging, reducing durability, cleanability, and practical service life.

Microorganisms metabolize polymer carbon into CO₂ or CH₄, proving actual biodegradation beyond physical or chemical degradation.

Redux highlights flax-based composites, redefining lightweight EV design with sustainable, high-performance materials.

Engineers use stereo-complexed PLA nanospheres to halt pesticide waste and boost crop yields via precise, trigger-activated release kinetics.