Science

Defossilisation
Defossilisation versus decarbonisation

The summer of 2023 has seen unprecedented heatwaves and wildfires across Europe and the US, as well as the hottest day ever recorded globally in July, with temperatures that would not have been possible without human-induced climate change.

Carbon fibre recycling
Asahi Kasei develops closed-loop for carbon fibre recycling

Rising demand for CFRC to dramatically increase the amount of waste product in coming years

Transparent wood
Transparent wood offers a sustainable alternative to plastic, study shows

The wood, made by replacing lignin with epoxy, has been identified as suitable for large-scale production

Road soil sweeper
New project aims to repurpose waste soil from road sweepings
By
Savannah Coombe
| 25 October 2022 |
It will measure levels of organic pollutants and metals found in waste soil
worker inspecting recycled carbon fibres
New initiative to commercialise continuous carbon fibre reclamation
By
Alice Lang
| 21 September 2022 |
The NCC aims to bring a tested recycling process to industry within three years
workers at PFA replacement plant
Incinerator residue piloted as low-carbon cement component
By
Alice Lang
| 21 September 2022 |
Using incinerator residues, the alternative will cut costs and lower carbon emissions for construction
KIT lab
New project aims to commercialise holistic recycling processes for lithium batteries
By
Alice Lang
| 15 September 2022 |
LiBinfinity Project will develop a mechanico-hydrometallurgical process to maximise the recyclability of lithium-ion cells
BDC biohydrogen technologies
BDC to join two new projects developing biohydrogen technologies
By
Alice Lang
| 5 September 2022 |
The two projects aim to decarbonise the UK transport sector with the use of biofuels
MiAlgae Biotech Startup
Biotechnology startup MiAlgae awarded £2.3m in private investment
By
Savannah Coombe
| 26 August 2022 |
The startup has developed biotechnology to produce a sustainable source of omega-3 from algae
Plastic packaging
Specially-evolved enzyme degrades problematic packaging
By
Resource
| 24 August 2022 |
The PET portion of mixed packaging is degraded, leaving behind an easier product to mechanically recycle
e-waste recycling
New e-waste recycling method receives national award and funding
By
Alice Lang
| 5 August 2022 |
Researchers at the University of Leicester have received national recognition for their DES technology
Earth Overshoot day 2022
Earth Overshoot Day arrives just one day earlier than that of 2021
By
Alice Lang
| 28 July 2022 |
Ecuador calls for ‘concrete joint action’ as humanity continues to overstretch natural resources
beach plastic waste
Oxford trial turns plastic waste to hydrogen fuel
By
Amelia Kelly
| 4 July 2022 |
‘Microwave catalysis’ will also process plastic waste into graphite, graphene and carbon nanotubes
Wood biomass
Academics develop PET-like plastics from biomass waste
By
Alice Lang
| 4 July 2022 |
The process is reportedly the first to no longer rely on edible crops
University of Portsmouth logo
University of Portsmouth to host international plastics conference
By
Alice Lang
| 28 June 2022 |
‘Plastics Future 2022’ will take place November 2022 and host speakers from around the world 
Plastic packaging
Treasury chemical recycling ruling condemned in open letter
By
Amelia Kelly
| 5 April 2022 |
A Plastic Planet criticises the decision to classify the products of chemical processes as ‘recycled content’
collection of empty plastic bottles
University of Birmingham licences rights to ‘supercritical water’ recycling technology
By
Alice Lang
| 15 February 2022 |
The new process aims to overcome challenges facing existing mixed plastic recycling processes 
Ecosurety Exploration Fund Logo
Ecosurety Exploration Fund announces 2022 winners
By
Alice Lang
| 9 February 2022 |
Recipients were recognised for their ‘originality, viability and potential long-term wider impact’
Xampla lab technician holding seeds in Petri dish
Xampla launch trial for plastic-free seed coating
By
Alice Lang
| 1 February 2022 |
The project aims to replace conventional coatings with a biodegradable alternative
Ariel image of Plastipak Luxembourg site
Plastipak announces PET recycling expansion in Luxembourg
By
Alice Lang
| 26 January 2022 |
The expansion will see a 136 per cent increase in annual production capacity
Person placing waste in bin
Behaviour Change becomes subsidiary of WRAP
By
Alice Lang
| 26 January 2022 |
The two organisations have partnered to develop public behaviour interventions
Plastic bottle waste
New policy tool could shrink the Maldives’ plastic waste by 85 per cent
By
Emma Love
| 19 January 2022 |
Its use has seen the country introduce a phase-out strategy for single-use plastics
Plastic packaging
New plastic separation technology a ‘breakthrough’ for recycling process
By
Emma Love
| 11 January 2022 |
The model can differentiate between 12 types of plastic, many common in households