Science

The steel industry is one of the world’s largest CO2 emitters, contributing around 8% of global CO2 emissions. A particularly challenging area is the thermal steel processes, which were responsible for up to 39 billion tons of CO2 emissions globally in 2021 due to natural gas combustion. Can hydrogen be the solution for this emission-heavy sector?

Multilayer plastic materials present a major challenge at the end of their life cycle due to the complexity of separating and processing their different components. This difficulty leads to lower recycling efficiency and increases the amount of waste ending up in landfills or incinerators.

The SOPHIA project aims to increase the current reuse, repair and recycling rates of end-of-life solar panels.

Cellulose-based textile materials can make the clothing sector more sustainable. Currently, cellulose-based textiles are mainly made from wood, but a study headed by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden points to the possibility of using agricultural waste from wheat and oat. The method is easier and requires fewer chemicals than manufacturing forest-based cellulose, and can enhance the value of waste products from agriculture.

The DACCO2 project works with materials with high adsorption capacity and photocatalytic properties capable of capturing and/or oxidizing pollutants and transforming them into compounds with low or no toxicity. Laurentia Technologies, Alfarben, and Toldos Costa Blanca are collaborating on this research to improve urban air quality, funded by IVACE+i and the ERDF.

Aimplas has developed a methodology that enables the biodegradability of plastic materials to be assessed three times faster than conventional testing methods. This solution allows companies to streamline decision-making in the development of compostable materials.

The widespread use of PFAS polymers in everything from consumer products to green technologies can lead to contamination of water, air, soil, food, and people. A European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment says that these chemicals can also contribute to global warming and ozone depletion.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biocompatible and biodegradable plastics in soil and marine environments synthesised by a wide variety of microorganisms, which share very similar characteristics with plastics of petrochemical origin.

How will we meet our needs for food, housing, energy and mobility in 2050? What major disruptions—from global unrest to climate breakdown or digital collapse—could reshape them? And how can we future-proof these vital production and consumption systems against disruptions? These are the questions explored in an EEA report released today.

While prevention measures are gaining momentum, more effective efforts at national level are needed to tackle the huge problem of food waste, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report. The assessment gives an update on waste prevention measures across the EU. Preventing food waste is both urgent and necessary, given the high impacts of food waste on climate change, but also to protect biodiversity, reduce pollution and enhance food security, it says.

Scaling up sustainable and biodegradable materials is crucial for the future advancement of European industry. Currently, many bio-based alternatives struggle to compete with established fossil-based chemicals due to challenges in environmental, economic, and societal performance. To overcome this, NEXT-STEP aims to develop recyclable products from wood production residues for everyday applications. New biochemical materials will be developed for shoe soles and insulation materials for construction.