Science

The research and innovation project POST-PURPLE aims to advance the development of zero-waste urban biorefineries. Funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, the initiative focuses on converting urban wastewater and organic waste streams into valuable resources through bio-based technologies.

RecyClass has revised its packaging recyclability guidelines following more than 20 testing campaigns conducted in 2025. The updated Design for Recycling Guidelines incorporate scientific findings for major plastic packaging streams. At the same time, the organisation revised its recyclability evaluation protocols to improve clarity and repeatability.

At the trade fair combination for the bulk solids, process and recycling industries, the Fraunhofer IZFP will present a demonstrator that identifies and sorts black plastics by polymer type using active thermography and machine learning.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published a briefing examining the relationship between environmental pollution and mental health outcomes.

Aimplas is participating in the European MULTIPLY project, launched in June 2025 to develop industrial applications based on microalgae. The initiative is funded by the Horizon Europe programme and brings together 17 partners to develop and scale ten bio-based products for five industrial sectors.

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a self-assembling solid-state electrolyte designed to facilitate the recycling of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.

The circular economy is increasingly integrated into climate policy discussions, reflecting the need to address material use alongside energy in order to meet international climate targets. A growing body of scientific literature examines how circular economy measures contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers at Jeonbuk National University have examined the application of metal oxide electrodes in electrochemical microplastic detection and assessed their suitability for environmental monitoring. The study analyses current developments in electrochemical sensing as an alternative to conventional spectroscopic methods for identifying microplastics in aquatic and complex environmental matrices.

Transport remains Europe’s most persistent climate challenge. Although rail offers a comparatively low-emission option for moving passengers and freight, road transport continues to dominate, keeping greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions at a high level. This is the key conclusion of a report published today by the European Environment Agency.

European citizens show high levels of concern about extreme heat and other consequences of climate change, while many remain insufficiently prepared to cope with these impacts in their daily lives. This is the central finding of a recent Europe-wide survey analysing public perceptions of climate risks and adaptation measures.

Textiles have not yet been part of a functioning circular economy, either in Switzerland or internationally. In particular, the reuse of fibres as a raw material for new textiles is associated with technical, organisational and economic challenges.