LightCycle

Fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite components with low weight, so-called lightweight components for transport and mobility, lead to significant CO2 savings. Despite established production technologies and weight savings, further progress in lightweight construction is increasingly difficult because the sustainability of these products is currently not given due to the unresolved recycling problem, although the regulations require, among other things, 85 % recycling of an end-of-life vehicle.

Circular Design - Getting from theory into practice

The project aims to provide recommendations for areas of action and measures that should promote the widespread use of circular design in Austria. For this purpose, the status quo of circular design in Austria is surveyed based on the circular design rules, obstacles for implementation are identified and best practice examples are presented.

MeteoR – mechanical-thermochemical process combinations for the recycling of fine fractions from waste treatment facilities

In waste treatment plants large quantities of fine fractions are generated. Due to their heterogeneity and properties, these fractions are currently not used although they contain a whole range of materials that represent valuable resources. The aim of the project MeteoR is to enable the utilization of all components (mineral, metallic, and combustible) of fine fractions by combining mechanical and thermochemical processes, to close material cycles and to significantly contribute to the further development of the Austrian circular economy and the reduction of CO2 emissions.

DeB-AT – Detection and separation of portable batteries from mixed waste using sensor technology and artificial intelligence

The DeB-AT project plans the development of a laboratory or pilot plant demonstrator for the targeted separation of batteries from mixed waste streams. The concept of the demonstrator follows the methodological elaboration of the necessary requirements of optical sensors and the separation technology for AI-supported detection of the general population of batteries.

DiRecT – Direct recycling and upcycling of titanium chips

In the project DiRecT, different new technologies will be developed and evaluated which make it possible to directly recycle the chips generated in the manufacturing process of high-quality titanium products or to produce directly from the chips near-net-shape components or improved semi-finished products (upcycling).

BitKOIN - CO2-reduced binding agent through thermochemical conversion of mineral wool waste combinations

In the BitKOIN project, conceptual, experimental and model research activities are conducted in order to develop a substitute material for ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). First, mineral wool waste and other mineral residues, which are required as additives to achieve the desired chemistry, are sampled representatively. The materials are then characterized chemically, mineralogically and physically and are additionally classified according to waste regulations. By thermochemical conditioning of the mineral wool waste, combined with the other waste materials, the "Huettensand 2.0" (GGBS 2.0) is developed. The project aims to develop the "Huettensand 2.0" , a durable GGBS substitute.

Hemp Ski, Recyclable ski manufacturing from hemp, bio-resin and waste streams

In industrial production for alpine skis, epoxy resins of fossil origin and pre-impregnated glass fiber reinforcements are processed today. Innovations that replace environmentally critical materials in skis with biogenic substitute materials with an improved environmental balance have so far been limited to the production of small series. This circumstance motivated the consortium to develop a solution for a circular bioeconomy with the HempSki project, which will also make industrial ski production from renewable raw materials and waste streams possible in the future.

PET2More - Biotechnological upcycling of PET plastic waste as a contribution to the gradual reduction of petroleum-based raw material dependency

The aim of the PET2More project is to develop a biotechnological process for upcycling PET plastic monomer waste. To this end, previously unknown and unavailable decarboxylase enzymes for the conversion of terephthalic acid and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid into valuable chemicals such as benzoic acid and furan-2-carboxylic acid are to be identified, characterized and optimized by means of enzyme engineering.

UPTextIL - Upcycling cellulose from used textiles into high-strength filaments using spinning technology in ionic liquids

The aim of the project is to develop a process for spinning cellulose from used textiles using ionic liquids, to analyze potential impurities in this recycling material stream, and to develop strategies for their removal or avoidance during the spinning process. The project aims to lay the foundations for closing the material cycle of cellulose from used textiles.

AGreeNew - New biobased products of the agricultural biorefinery

AGreeNew aims to expand the product portfolio of the agricultural biorefinery. Sour whey, farm manure and green silage will be used as raw materials to produce biosurfactants, fertilizers and protein-rich animal feed. The production processes of these valuable products will be assessed in terms of sustainability and economic potential.

Circular Economy Compass (KLW-Komp)

The Circular Economy Compass project has developed a responsive online self-assessment tool for the circular economy in SMEs. Based on a theory-based evaluation scheme, it is be possible to determine a company's degree of preparedness for a circular economy at a reasonable cost. To this end, the tool has a computational logic that automatically generates a circularity score (KPI, Key Performance Indicator) based on the answers.

NaKaReMa - Improving the sustainability of cable sheathing through regional, bio-based and recycled materials

The NaKaReMa project takes a holistic approach to cable sheathing for automotive applications and their improvement in terms of sustainability. To this end, various approaches are being investigated - both regional raw material sources to reduce transport routes and bio-based raw materials to reduce dependence on crude oil. The use of recyclates from cable sheathing to close the cycle through recycling is also being investigated.

EPSolutely - Development of a circular economy concept in the plastics industry using the example of EPS

In a system-wide cooperation of all relevant actors of the EPS value chain system, concepts, technologies and methods for an EPS circular economy are developed. The integration into an overall concept with optimised logistics and transport systems should enable the transformation of linear EPS value creation systems into a circular economy.

ReTarget - Re-manufacturing and re-purposing of high-quality sputter materials

The project objective is to reduce the energy input in the production of sputtering targets by at least 20 % by direct re-manufacturing of used, precious metal targets. In addition, the utilization rate will be increased from an average of 20-30 % to 70-80 % through a direct re-purpose approach, as well as by optimizing the sputtering process. This will allow a significant reduction of the footprint of the sputtering process.

Road-to-Road/ Verschränkung neuartiger Methoden zur effizienten „Road-to-Road“ Inwertsetzung von Altasphalt

The planned combination of experimental and model-based methods for assessing/describing the behavior of asphalt shall enable the goal-oriented optimization of the performance/durability of recycled asphalt, with the resulting positive effects (CO2 balance, transport distances, landfill volume) being quantified within the project.

RE-FORM earth - Earth Building for Building Sector Transformation

In order to promote the use of earth, the RE-FORM earth project is creating a planning basis for the construction of structures and buildings containing earth. In order to counter uncertainties regarding the health effects of earth building materials, a comprehensive program is being carried out to investigate radiation exposure and potential pollutants in earth. By erecting a temperature-controlled rammed earth wall in a test room with subsequent measurements, the aim is to determine the extent to which the material can contribute to healthy indoor air due to its moisture-regulating properties and help to balance out energy peaks.

World Sustainable Energy Days 2025

4. - 7. März 2025
Wels

The leading conference on the energy transition and climate neutrality.

rPS4FoodPackaging - Polystyrene Recycling for food contact applications

The production of recycled plastics for food contact applications is challenging. Besides recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) for beverage bottles, there are few alternatives in recycled plastics. This project focuses on researching a novel recycling process for polystyrene, aiming for approval of recycled polystyrene (rPS) for food contact applications.

CEPAM – Circular Economy Powder for Additive Manufacturing

In the CEPAM research project, a recycling process for high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing is developed. Various methods of energy input are being evaluated for energy efficiency, scalability and powder quality and built up on a pilot scale. The recycled metal powder is characterized and processed in the Laser Powder Bed Fusion process. In order to compare the mechanical properties of the printed components, parts are printed from both new and recycled powder.

NNATT - Sustainable use of excavated materials from civil engineering and tunnelling using sensor-based technologies

The holistic system developed in the NNATT project for the sustainable utilisation of excavated materials starts with the geology and extends through the construction process to recycling. With the help of sensor-based real-time analyses and an AI-supported decision matrix, excavated materials are separated and further developed into customised products.