Circularity and Environmental Impact

The section on Circularity and Environmental Impact contributes to the societal goals of climate change mitigation, optimal utilization of residual resources, and a safe and non-toxic environment.

We are organised around three major research areas:

• Residual Resources in a Circular Economy: assess, evaluate and develop contributions to the sustainable conversion, utilization, recovery, and overall management of waste as a residual resource.
• Chemicals in the Environment: advancing scientific knowledge to identify, quantify and tackle environmental problems caused by emissions of chemicals, nanomaterials, and micro-/nanoplastics
• Risk Mitigation of Soil, Groundwater, and Surface Water Contamination: investigate, quantify and assess key natural and anthropogenic processes affecting surface water and groundwater quality through laboratory, field, and modelling studies at various scales.

We provide clear recommendations, guidance, and assessment tools based on consistent and high‐quality technical research for authorities, organisations, and industry.

We have close collaborations with national and regional authorities, international organisations (e.g., OECD, WHO), public and private utility companies, chemical & manufacturing industries (e.g., Unilever, BASF, Bayer, Coloplast, Novo Nordisk), stakeholder organisations, and research institutions/universities.