Technocycle economy

Analogous to the biocycle economy we also support and foster circular approaches for technology products and materials (technocycle).

Analogous to the biocycle economy we also support and foster circular approaches for technology products and materials (technocycle). The goal is to reduce the use of resources and environmental impacts of technology production, use and disposal. Main principles are: Optimize the design to expand life-spans and enable the re-use of components and materials, shift to renewable and secondary resources, sharing, reuse and refurbish, valorise waste streams, and close the loops by creating economic incentives for circular business models.

Among others we have investigated the life cycles of organic and perovskite photovoltaic cells, of batteries and of the recovery processes of scandium from different waste streams. We have analysed the existing or proposed life-cycles of the technologies, identified environmentally relevant processes and supported transformations to increase the circularity. We also have developed a web-based tool to foster industrial symbiosis among companies and industries and are engaged in international capacity building activities for resource efficient and cleaner production and eco-industrial parks.