Twence and the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT) are collaborating on research to improve recycling and achieve a CO2-neutral, circular economy by 2050.
Key Takeaways
- Twence collaborates with ISPT to enhance recycling methods and aim for a CO2-neutral circular economy by 2050.
- The partnership focuses on extracting more raw materials and energy from waste streams, while sharing expertise in waste processing.
- Twence participates in multiple ISPT projects like Rebblocs and InRep, which explore new recycling techniques and improve plastic recycling efficiency.
- Research initiatives provide strategic insights, revealing which technologies are viable and when they could be economically feasible.
- The ISPT network fosters collaboration among industries, startups, and research institutions, accelerating innovations towards a circular economy.
Twence is collaborating with the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT) to identify new methods for extracting more raw materials and energy from waste streams. “That is why we have been working with ISPT for years,” states Wim de Jong, strategy and policy advisor at Twence. “The network is buzzing with ideas.”
The ISPT brings together companies, research institutions, and startups to focus on the sustainability of industrial processes. “Their ambition is a CO2-neutral and circular economy in 2050. That aligns with our strategic goals,” notes de Jong.
According to business development manager Bjorn Zwijnenberg, the partnership provides valuable visibility into new techniques and their development. “We see what is promising, what still needs time and what that means for our role in the chain,” Zwijnenberg says. “At the same time, we contribute our own knowledge of waste processing.”
Joint Research Initiatives
Twence participates in various ISPT projects. One such project, Rebblocs, investigates how difficult-to-process residual streams can be converted into new building blocks. “We supply contaminated waste wood residues and waste plastics from construction and demolition waste,” says Zwijnenberg. Researchers and companies use these materials to test new processing techniques.
Another initiative, the InRep project, focused on improving plastic recycling and yielded important insights. The research demonstrated that recycling results are highly dependent on decisions made at the start of the chain, such as product design and packaging labelling. “This knowledge helps us in assessing incoming plastic streams and in the further development of post-separation processes,” explains de Jong.
Strategic Insights from Collaboration
Some research projects provide clearer strategic direction. The Prove It project, for instance, examined efficient methanol production from CO2 and hydrogen. The findings indicated that while the process is technically possible, it is not yet economically viable due to high costs. De Jong considers such outcomes valuable, stating, “They give direction to our strategic choices and help to determine when new techniques will become interesting.”
Zwijnenberg concludes that the strength of the ISPT lies in its network. “Large industry, startups and knowledge institutions work together on the same questions. This creates contacts and ideas that would not otherwise come together quickly. This is a way to accelerate innovations together and contribute to a circular economy.”
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