Science

A major European research initiative coordinated by Fraunhofer Umsicht has been launched to develop integrated solutions for textile waste recycling.

The recycling of complex and composite plastic materials is one of the main challenges of today’s circular economy. Their presence is increasingly common in strategic sectors such as automotive, renewable energy, and aerospace, where they offer lightness, strength, and versatility.

The European Union remains largely on track to achieve its 2030 targets to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, according to the latest annual check-up on EU progress to its energy and climate targets published by the European Environment Agency today. Total net greenhouse gas emissions in the EU fell by a further 2.5% in 2024, according to estimated figures included in the ‘Trends and projections’ report.

The UPCYCLE project, funded by Horizon Europe under the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA), officially kicked off with a two-day meeting in Gent, Belgium.

A research project by ETH Zurich in cooperation with BASF SE has examined a new recycling pathway for mixed plastic waste from end-of-life vehicles. The study explored the joint recycling of automotive shredder residue and biomass through gasification.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluorine-based polymer with a wide range of applications, including non-stick cookware production and electrical and optical fiber cable coating, owing to its high durability, thermal stability, and low friction. Ironically, its durability also presents an environmental challenge for its disposal.

The European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO) has released a 2025 report which warns that building emissions remain one of the key roadblocks towards net-zero targets. Between 2018 and 2023, annual CO₂ cuts from the sector were about 16.5 million tonnes: and it has to double by 2030, the study says.

The EU-funded Futuram project has presented new applications for recycling and reusing critical raw materials. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s resource security.

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.