"Industry in Transition: Prospects of various material cycles in an internationally competitive landscape"

Talk description:

The chemical industry is at a crossroads today. Traditionally strong European and Flemish clusters are coming under pressure due to the energy transition and geopolitical tensions, while the centre of gravity is increasingly shifting towards Asia. At the same time, new recycling initiatives are finally gaining momentum, driven by supportive policy measures. Together, this creates a complex and challenging context that is difficult to navigate.

Chemical recycling offers clear opportunities for a circular economy, but today it must compete with a global market of low-cost virgin raw materials.

Mechanical recycling also has its limitations: product quality is not always sufficient, and profitability often depends on temporary market advantages.

New regulations are helping to move the sector forward, but without a clear and stable framework, uncertainty remains high.

In this lecture, you will gain a sharp overview of the main chemical recycling technologies for different polymers, as well as insight into their economic and strategic feasibility. Essential for anyone who wants to think ahead and retain control over the future of sustainable and circular materials.

About 

Pieter Billen is a chemical engineer and professor at the University of Antwerp, where he leads the iPRACS research group. In his research, he deliberately bridges experimental chemistry and process design, with the aim of making organic materials circular. With a strong focus on industrial applicability, he works within the innovative framework of energy and material optimisation.

The iPRACS group adopts a distinctly interdisciplinary approach: catalysis, thermodynamics and economic feasibility are always considered together. The research lines include, among others, the chemical recycling of polyamides, polyurethanes and rubbers, as well as the synthesis and modification of bio-based materials. This combination of fundamental insights and practical relevance makes his work particularly valuable for the transition towards circular materials.