Workshop Chemical Recyling: Potentials and Challenges

Event motivation and concept

The workshop is intended to build up knowledge and networks between research groups, startups, and plant manufacturers that are dealing with chemical recycling, to discuss and clarify diverging positions, and to identify starting points for making practical use of chemical recycling processes in Switzerland.

• Joint initiative of OST, FHNW, and Empa
• One-day, hybrid event (ca. 9:30 – 17:00)
• keynote, full and short talks with plenum discussion
• parallel, moderated breakout sessions on special topics
• breaks for business lunch, refreshments and networking
• in-person participation (139.- CHF, limited number)
• online participation (39.- CHF, unlimited)

Topics and questions

• Definitions, regulations, technical overview​
• facts, controversies, state of the art, market, players ​
• Pyrolysis and hydrolysis of thermoplastics; thermosets/composites; textiles/fibers
• practical approaches, discussion, knowledge transfer 

Event agenda

09.00 - 09.30 Welcome coffee
09.30 - 09.40 Opening: Tobias Lamprecht, Arno Maurer, OST IMP
09.40 - 10.05 Elias Rehmann, BAFU: Chemical recycling within current & future plastics policies
10.05 - 10.25 Cecilia Salah, ETH: The role of chemical recycling within the circular economy
10.25 - 10.45 Hendrik Rasch, Evonik: Chemical recycling – collaboration for a circular economy

10.45 - 11.15 Coffee break & networking
11.15 - 12.15 Parallel sessions: A1 Pyrolysis – technology; A2 Thermosets & composites; A3 Medical applications
12.15 - 13.15 Business lunch & networking

13.15 - 14.45     Impulse talks

• Pueng That, Stavolt AG: Chemical recycling in South East Asia
• Pascal Gallo, Composite Recycling: Pyrolysis of fiber composites
• Pelin Uran, DePoly: Depolymerization of PET
• Mike Schwarz, Worn Again: Textile waste recycling
• Tim Börner, Empa/HES-SO: Biotechnological recycling of various polymers

14.45 - 15.15 Coffee break & networking
15.15 - 16.15 Parallel sessions: B1 Pyrolysis, general aspects; B2 Advanced chem. Recycling; B3 Follow-up activity
16.15 - 16.45 Panel discussion and wrap-up 

16.45 - 17.30 Apéro and goodbye 

OST Campus Buchs/hybrid