Speakers Day 1

Mr Woodward is the founding Director of Quest Associates, which has a long history of delivering specialist facilitation and deliberative discussions, particularly related to the sustainable development agenda. He covers interventions on a huge range of subjects and has wide experience of helping to bridge differing perspectives on challenging issues and has a special interest and expertise in facilitating dialogues and conferences related to the sustainable development agenda. This includes responses to the challenge of climate change; moving to a circular economy, eco-innovation to implementation, quality of life, and governance issues. He moderated the Circular Materials Conference in 2018 and 2021.

The keynote addresses one of Europe’s strategic challenges: securing access to critical raw materials while reducing environmental impact. In the face of growing global demand and supply risks, the speaker makes the case for circularity as a key industrial solution. By recovering valuable materials from waste, investing in innovation, and building a genuine internal market for secondary raw materials, Europe can reduce dependency, cut emissions, and strengthen competitiveness. Circularity is not just a sustainability goal — it is essential to Europe’s economic resilience and leadership in a resource-constrained world.

Patrick KLEIN is a Policy Officer at the European Commission’s DG Internal Market where he works on critical raw materials with a focus on circularity and sustainability. His professional career has centred on shaping policies for industrial transition and innovation, including promoting social enterprises and their contribution to industrial policy, as well as supporting the green and digital transitions. He has also collaborated with the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund to strengthen financing instruments for business development. Before joining the Commission in 2002, He worked on SME development projects in the environmental and energy sectors across the Mediterranean, Asia, and South Africa. Patrick holds degrees in economics, international relations, and European public policy. He also completed executive education at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.

Maria Ljunggren is Associate Professor in Sustainable Materials Management. Her research supports informed decision-making for the sustainable use of material resources, with a particular focus on circular strategies for complex products. To this end, she applies and develops methods such as material flow analysis, life cycle assessment and criticality assessment. In early 2025, she was appointed as a member to the International Resource Panel under the United Nations Environment Programme. 

Professor Markus Reuter has been one of the main initiators of the circular economy paradigm in the metals industry. He is Chief Expert at the SMS group GmbH (Germany), Adjunct Professor on Recycling at Curtin University (Australia) and Honorary Professor at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany), where he was Director at the Helmholtz Institute for more than five years. Previously, he has worked as Director: Technology Management at Outotec, Chief Executive Technologist at Ausmelt, as well as Anglo American and Mintek. Prof Reuter has been ranked number 8 in the world in the field of recycling by ScholarGPS, which ranks scholars whose works are of profound impact and of utmost quality. He is the recipient of numerous international awards, including the 1st Prize Publication Award for Handbook of Recycling by the International Solid Waste Association in 2014.

Ilka von Dalwigk has recently joined Recharge as Director General. RECHARGE is the advanced rechargeable and lithium batteries industry association in Europe, representing all steps of the battery value chain. She has previously been working as Policy and Market Intelligence Manager at EIT Innoenergy with the industrial development programme of the EBA since its launch 2017 with a strong focus on sustainability and supply chain topics. She has been instrumental in building up and managing the vast and complex network of key stakeholder along the battery value chain, as well as developing the set of initial recommendations that contributed to make the EU a key player in the global battery market.

To achieve climate neutrality and digital sovereignty by 2050, the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) from end-of-life batteries and production waste could allow the EU to reduce its reliance on imports and secure the clean mobility transition. The development of innovative and efficient recycling processes has become more crucial than ever for the EU.  The RESPECT project is funded by the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme and proposes an innovative solution for the recycling of different ranges of Li-ion batteries to support the development of a competitive, circular, and sustainable European battery manufacturing industry. The RESPECT project seeks to reshape the battery recycling landscape through a disruptive pre-treatment process, dual extraction routes for the recovery of the CRM, and a commitment to maximising material valorisation. With over 3 years into the project, promising results have been achieved. this was made possible thanks to the 18 multidisciplinary and complementary partners from 9 EU countries, who have developed a holistic approach to address the challenges and seize the opportunities related to the battery ecosystem.

Justo Garcia serves as the Head of the Financing Strategy for the Battery project at Orano. He oversees a team dedicated to securing EU and French funding, while also coordinating consortium activities. He is the coordinator of the RESPECT project, which funded by the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme. With over 25 years of experience at Orano Group, Justo has held various roles, including engineering manager, project manager, and head of the R&D department. In 2021, he was elected to the Executive Board of the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA), as a representative of the battery recycling industry.

Recovery of graphite and other valuable materials, including high-value critical metals, is essential to improve the recycling efficiency of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and support the transition to a circular economy based on secondary raw materials. This study applies a low-impact froth flotation method to recover spent graphite from real EV black mass. Using green additives enables effective separation of anodic and cathodic materials. A mild chemical purification and short thermal treatment yield regenerated graphite, suitable for direct reuse as secondary active material in new cell anodes.

Lorenzo De Vita earned his BSc (2016) and MSc (2018) in Chemistry at the University of Pavia, focusing on synthesizing noble metal nanoparticles (NPs). During his PhD, he developed polymeric nanocomposites with inorganic NPs for antibacterial and photothermal use. After receiving his PhD in 2022 with a thesis on polymeric films with noble metal NPs, he continued as a postdoc studying PEG-coated gold NPs and silver NPs for SERS detection. In 2024, he joined Eliana Quartarone’s lab as a postdoc on the RENOVATE HE project, working on froth flotation and direct recycling of LFP cathodes and graphite from LIBs.

“Li-ion batteries recycling via high-intensity milling followed by organic acid leaching for preferential lithium extraction”

Nowadays, spent batteries are considered a secondary and potential resource to meet the growing demand for lithium, a critical element widely used in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. Therefore, this work presents a hydrometallurgical method for extracting lithium from Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) batteries. Citric (C6H8O7) and oxalic (C2H2O4) acids were used as leaching agents, both of which are catalogued as environmentally friendly organic compounds. This investigation provides a proficient methodology for battery recycling, emphasizing sustainable practices. 

PhD in Chemical Engineering, Autonomous Metropolitan University, Mexico. Brenda specializes in hydrometallurgical processes for recovering valuable and toxic metals from ores and electronic waste, with an emphasis on thermodynamic studies and chemical speciation in aqueous solutions. Currently, her research focuses on the recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

This study evaluates L-ascorbic acid as a dual-role (reducing/complexing) lixiviant for sustainable hydrometallurgical processing of waste Li-ion batteries. Black mass was characterized (PSD, XRD, SEM-EDS, C analysis) and leaching parameters (acid concentration, temperature, time, S/L) were optimized. Under 1 M ascorbic acid, 65 °C, 60 min, and S/L = 8 g L⁻¹, dissolution efficiencies reached Li 94.1%, Co 98.7%, Ni 93.3%, Mn 95.6%, with negligible Cu. The results highlight a high-yield, oxidant-free organic-acid route aligned with circular processing.

Emircan Uysal is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Division of Resource Recovery, since June 2025). His research centers on circular resource recovery from industrial and mining wastes, with emphasis on crystallization-based separations (eutectic freeze/antisolvent), sustainable hydrometallurgy, and thermodynamic/DFT modeling. He previously worked as a Research Assistant at Istanbul Technical University (2022–2025) and holds an MSc (2023) and BSc (2021) from Istanbul Technical University.

Utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction, the aim of his study is to recover the polymeric separator and absorbed electrolyte solvent from industrially treated battery waste. When compared to heat treatment and washing methods, the SC-CO2 extraction resulted in higher recovery yields than the other evaluated methods. In addition, no changes due to the SC-CO2 extraction were observed in the properties of the polymeric separator. Thereby, SC-CO2 extraction proves to be a promising method for an efficient recovery of separator material from battery waste.

Martin Östergren obtained his BSc in Chemical Engineering and MSc in Material Chemistry at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. After 9 years in the industry, he returned to Chalmers in 2024 as a PhD candidate, in the Nuclear Chemistry / Industrial Material Recycling group. Under the supervision of Dr Burçak Ebin, Martin works in the field of battery recycling, focusing on the recovery of electrolyte and polymeric separator from battery waste material using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.

Since 2007, oversees the general management of the association. Pascal has been involved in all manner of e-waste programmes, policies and projects for twenty years. Formerly he was Government Affairs Manager on WEEE at APPLiA, the European home appliance manufacturing industry association. In 2009, he took on the management of the WEEE Forum’s WEEELABEX project that created the world’s first set of harmonised e-waste standards and set up the WEEELABEX Organisation in Prague, Czechia. In the past ten years, he was legal entity authorised representative for the WEEE Forum of multiple EU grant-funded projects. He is also a Sherpa to the High-Level Steering Group of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials and as such contributed to the Strategic Implementation Plan. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of CIRCULARISE, a start-up that seeks to make the value chain more transparent.

Upon graduating from Delft University of Technology, Laura joined the circular IT mission at Closing the Loop and applied her knowledge directly into practice. In her current role as Compliance and Sustainability Manager, she develops standards and procedures that drive operational excellence and foster sustainable practices. Her work plays a key role in supporting CTL’s core objective: improving the management of electronic waste in Africa.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs), comprising ~28% metals and ~72% non-metals, are key components of electrical and electronic equipment and a valuable secondary source of base, precious, and rare earth metals. However, their complex composition makes recovery challenging, requiring precise characterisation (TGA, SEM-EDX, ICP-OES). This study examines sustainable, scalable alternatives—such as amino acids, organic acids, ionic liquids (ILs), and deep eutectic solvents (DES)—to traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods, which are energy-intensive and generate hazardous waste. A full evaluation of each recycling stage is presented, including environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and market potential.

PhD student, MSc in Chemistry (LM-54) at the University of Pavia, BSc in Chemistry (L-27) at the University of Eastern Piedmont. The focus of her research is developing novel and sustainable approaches to the recovery of strategic and valuable raw materials from spent printed circuit boards (PCBs). She previously held a research scholarship at the Milan Cancer Institute, where she focused on developing radiopharmaceuticals for use in positron emission tomography (PET).

The increasing generation of plastic waste presents a major environmental challenge. This study evaluates the LARCODEMS device, originally designed for coal sorting, for its effectiveness in separating plastic mixtures. Experiments were conducted using plastic samples with known densities and aqueous salt solutions as separation media. Results showed that LARCODEMS achieves high separation efficiency even with minimal density differences. Further tests with real plastic waste from shredded electronic equipment confirmed effective separation of metals from plastics, validated by chemical analysis of fractions. These findings suggest that LARCODEMS offers a promising alternative to hydrocyclones for improved plastic waste sorting and recycling.

Ing. Antonín Šperlich is a third-year Ph.D. student at the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences. He earned his degree in chemical technology and chemical engineering from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. He developed laboratory skills and techniques during his specialised secondary education in chemistry. His research focuses on industrial chemistry and chemical process engineering, including the design of technologies, with an emphasis on physical separation methods and their applications in recycling and waste management.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest-growing and most complex global waste streams. In the EU, collection rose 68% between 2012 and 2022, outpacing treatment by 11% due to its heterogeneous and toxic composition—average products contain 69 elements, including hazardous substances. Plastics, over 20% of WEEE mass, pose major treatment challenges. EU measures like the WEEE Directive and the Circular Economy Action Plan target improved plastic management, with recent focus on modeling plastic flows to link waste streams back to the plastics industry. A new two-part framework addresses key data and variability issues: (1) a PostgreSQL database harmonizing 314,000 data points from 120+ sources in 50 countries over 40 years, and (2) a Bayesian material flow analysis incorporating uncertainty into trend estimates. The aim is to help close the gap between 5 million tonnes of WEEE collected annually in the EU and only 800,000 tonnes recycled, advancing circular economy goals.

Christoph Becker is a researcher at VITO’s Material & Chemical Unit, PhD advisor at the University of Antwerp, and member of ISWA’s Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimisation. He works on material management and digital technologies for circular economy models, focusing on critical raw materials, plastics, municipal waste, and e-waste, as well as the sociotechnical imaginaries shaping waste management. Previously, he was a PostDoc at the University of Amsterdam, developing complex systems modelling and co-founding the POLDER policy decision-support center. He holds a PhD in computational cosmology and data science, supported by the STFC/CDT scholarship.

In the Ground Zero project, the full value chain for sustainable structural composites in the automotive sector was evaluated in terms of readiness and climate impact. Recycling of end-of-life composites was assessed through analytical and lab-scale pyrolysis from both technical and environmental perspectives. Two demonstrators were studied: a truck side skirt made of flax fibre and polypropylene (PP), and a car front header of glass fibre and PP. Additional materials such as PA6, PA11, and thermoset polyester were also tested. Results showed that material type influenced pyrolysis outcomes—glass fibres could be reused, flax fibres converted to bio-oil, and polymers recovered as oil or wax for use in fuel or chemical production. Pyrolysis offers a more climate-friendly alternative to incineration.

Mrs. Ann-Christine Johansson is a researcher at RISE AB, Bioeconomy and health, in Sweden. Johansson has a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Luleå University of Technology and more than 15 years of experience within thermochemical conversion, pyrolysis including upgrading and gasification, of biomass residues and plastic waste.

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is vital for decarbonising transport, but growing demand for lithium, cobalt, and nickel poses major sustainability challenges. This study identifies 65 key factors affecting EV battery supply chains through a literature review, expert interviews, and a stakeholder survey. These span political, economic, social, technical, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) domains, with policy and legislation as key drivers of circularity. A comparison with European policy documents shows that while environmental and technical issues are well covered, social aspects are often neglected. The study highlights the need for more aligned and inclusive policy frameworks to support sustainable and circular battery supply chains.

Sophie Kempston is a PhD candidate at the University of Warwick, funded by The Leverhulme Trust. Her research explores the sustainability impacts of growing demand for critical raw materials driven by the UK’s electric vehicle transition. This includes scenario forecasting, identifying key sustainability factors across the battery supply chain, and assessing whether current policy aligns with these challenges. She has experience in academia, industry, and policy, and currently also works as a sustainability and economics analyst.

In line with the EU’s New Battery Regulation (2023/1542), this study aims to assess the environmental performance of explorative portable battery designs, considering variations in pack design, pack material, and cell chemistry. With three alternatives for each of the three design aspects, a total of 27 (3³) explorative battery designs were generated and subjected to life cycle assessment (LCA). The results indicate that cell chemistry is the main environmental contributor, with lithium iron phosphate exhibiting the lowest impact. An alternative pack design using mechanical fasteners also demonstrated an environmental improvement due to the avoidance of adhesives and potting compounds. This explorative design approach, coupled with LCA, contributes to operationalizing sustainable and circular batteries, offering holistic and actionable guidance for manufacturing companies.

John has an international academic and research background in industrial ecology, specializing in systems analysis tools such as material flow analysis, life cycle assessment, and life cycle costing. Over the past decade, he has participated in various Swedish and EU-funded projects focused on mapping, sorting, and recycling diverse resource streams at different geographical scales, including landfill mining, plastic packaging, bottom ash, textiles, solar panels, and portable batteries.

Aluminium salt slag, or aluminium black dross, is a hazardous waste generated during melting and refining of end-of-life aluminium scrap.  This presentation describes the upcycling activities of aluminium salt slag generated at Stena Aluminium, Älmhult Sweden and is an important part of the RecAL-project, funded by Horizon Europe. More than 40 tons of salt slag has been treated in a pyrometallurgical process in the pilot plant of Swerim, Luleå. The chloride content of the salt slag has been effectively evaporated and the remaining components has been melted together with lime and dolomite to form a synthetic slag. Industrial tests in the steel industry are planned using the synthetic slag as an addition during secondary steelmaking.

Senior researcher at the Metallurgical Department of Swerim, Luleå, where he is responsible for research and development of sustainable recycling processes related to modern steelmaking and aluminium production.

Copper is a strategic raw material and an important component in electric motors, widely used across industries for its excellent conductivity and recyclability. It plays an important role in the transformation from fossil fuel-based systems to green, electrified systems. However, substantial material losses continue throughout the lifecycle of electric motors, even with copper’s intrinsic capacity for circularity. The recovery of secondary copper sources from end-of-life (EoL) products is becoming increasingly important in this context. This study investigates the challenges of closing the loop for copper during the lifecycle of motors in industrial applications. This study focuses on circularity and its technological challenges in a value chain of copper.

Linda is a PhD student at LTU in the Department of Product and Production Development. She has a background in the automotive industry, having previously worked at Scania and Volvo. She is currently focused on integrating circularity into the early stages of product development.

Sri Ram Gnanesh Senthilnathan is a PhD student at LTU in the Department of Machine Elements, working on the project Circular Economy in Electrical Motors. He has a background in Electrical Engineering and Industrial Ecology, and is passionate about sustainable development.

Steelmaking via electric arc furnaces (EAF) can lower emissions but still needs renewable carbon sources. The BioReSteel project explores biochar (BC) from low-value wet biomass—garden waste (GW), olive pomace (OP), and organic municipal waste (OFMSW)—as a fossil carbon substitute. Biomass is treated by hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis, and BC quality is assessed by heating value, ash, and phosphorus (P) content. BC_OP shows lowest ash (8 wt%) and moderate P, making it suitable for EAF; BC_GW also performs well. BC_OFMSW, with high P (20%), is better for fertilizer after P extraction. Phosphorus, while detrimental to steel quality, is an economically valuable critical raw material. Pyrolysis boosts fixed carbon and heating value but raises ash. BC suitability depends on feedstock availability, logistics, and P market value. Integrating BC into steelmaking offers sustainability gains and supports industrial symbiosis.

Michael Renz is a researcher at the Institute of Chemical Technology, a joint research center of the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Spanish National Research Council. His research interests include heterogeneous catalysis and biomass conversion. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermochemical process that can be used to convert wet lignocellulosic biomass into valuable products. He has developed concepts for the utilization of hydrochar, the solid product of the HTC process, in the construction sector, in sodium ion batteries, and in the metallurgical industry.

This case study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a circular business model between Outokumpu Stainless AB and Minpro Recycling AB in Sweden. Metal hydroxide sludge from Outokumpu is processed at Minpro into Hydrofluss, which is reused in Outokumpu’s AOD process—reducing the need for virgin fluorspar and ferroalloys. The carbon footprint is assessed using industry data, with scenario and sensitivity analyses exploring uncertainties. The study aims to improve understanding of environmental impacts and support informed stakeholder dialogue.

Xingqiang Song is a researcher in the Department of Metallurgy at Swerim AB, Sweden. He completed his Ph.D. in Industrial Ecology at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, in 2012. His current research interests include environmental systems analysis and life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of emerging technologies and circular business models, with a particular focus on the metals and mining sector.

The steel industry is aiming to improve resource efficiency by utilising secondary materials, such as green waste hydrochar, to replace fossil carbon in steelmaking. The RFCS BioReSteel project focuses on utilising municipal green waste, including both pristine and pyrolysed hydrochar, along with mill scale residues, to create mill scale-hydrochar briquettes. These briquettes are top-charged into the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for steel production, thereby increasing resource efficiency and material circularity. The mechanical strength of the briquettes is vital for EAF top charging. The amount of hydrochar added influences this strength. Green waste hydrochar (GWH) and pyrolysed hydrochar (PGWH) can be incorporated at rates of up to 20% and 25%, respectively.

As a chemical engineer, he holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Luleå University of Technology. He mainly focuses on recycling secondary materials in steelmaking and is responsible for the Agglomeration lab at Swerim-Luleå in Sweden, the first of its kind in the Nordic region.

LITHIUM-ION battery materials circularity poses several challenges. However, several of the challenges,especially in the very beginning of the recycling value-chain, are often underestimated and partially neglected:

• Residual energy management
• Changing form factors and geometry
• Product design and ”end of life” preformance and properties
• Complicated chemical compositions.
• Cathode and anode chemistry development, fundamentally changing the recycling economics

This presentation, will addressed these topics based on a solid foundation of real-world experience from industrial level battery recycling in a swiftly developing policy landscape.

Marcus Martinsson leads Stena Recycling’s battery recycling business. He joined the recycling industry after serving as an infantry officer, which has provided invaluable experiences and a firm leadership foundation. Importantly, he draws on the trained audacity needed to drive business development and change in the rapidly evolving field of batteries. With 18 years in the industry, Marcus has developed a solid understanding of the European and global recycling markets and related fields. Seeing the recycling industry as the mirror to the production industry and consumption-markets and realizing that we currently manage to utilize only 8% of our product material portfolio gives Marcus a great confidence in the potential and need for profitable and business driven circularity.

Lithium-ion battery (LiB) production and recycling involve occupational health challenges, including exposure to metals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese, as well as complex chemical mixtures. As production and recycling scale up, evolving work environments pose new potential health risks that require targeted assessment. In three parallel multidisciplinary research projects, air, dermal, and systemic exposure is investigated alongside health indicators to better understand these risks. The results aim to inform safer practices and contribute to a healthy, safe, and sustainable working environment within the battery industry.

Klara Midander, PhD, is a senior researcher and project leader at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. She has initiated and leads several multidisciplinary projects targeting dermal and inhalation exposure to metals and chemicals in industrial environments, in collaboration with colleagues at IVL, the University of Gothenburg, and Karolinska Institutet. With a background in chemistry and a PhD in surface and corrosion science, she combines expertise in materials science with occupational exposure monitoring and health risk assessment. Her work bridges research and practice in occupational health, with a focus on prevention, sustainability, and real-world impact. She is experienced in leading interdisciplinary teams toward shared goals—and in always having fun at work.

This study presents an energy-efficient and rapid method for recycling cathode materials from lithium-ion batteries using electromagnetic induction heating. Shredded NMC cathode material was heated to 300, 400, and 550 °C to thermally decompose PVDF/PTFE binders and facilitate separation from aluminium foil. The optimal processing temperature (550 °C) achieved complete binder removal in just 17 seconds, confirmed via TGA-DSC, SEM-EDX, and ICP-OES analyses. Compared to conventional thermal methods requiring 3.5 hours and 10.96 kWh/kg, this induction method required only 2.973 kWh/kg. These results highlight induction heating as a scalable, energy-efficient pre-treatment for industrial battery recycling.

Dr. Chris Powell is a chemical process engineer specialising in energy materials, environmental systems, and sustainable manufacturing. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate on the Faraday Institution’s ReLiB and ReBlend projects at the University of Leicester, he focuses on lithium-ion battery recycling, black mass processing, and circular economy integration. With an EngD in Process Engineering from the University of Nottingham, Dr. Powell has extensive experience in pilot-scale design, lifecycle analysis, and advanced analytical techniques. He is a member of IChemE and an advocate for safety-led innovation in high-integrity engineering environments.

This study presents a process to selectively recover and upgrade graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries with NMC cathodes. Acid leaching removes all metallic components, yielding graphite-rich residue. Residual PVDF binder and carbon black are eliminated by hot DMSO extraction, acetone rinsing, and water-based cleaning. The purified graphite undergoes hydrothermal treatment with KOH to intercalate potassium ions and expand interlayer spacing, followed by ultrasonication to produce few-layer graphite sheets. Characterization by ICP-OES, FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM, and BET confirmed the removal of contaminants and structural modification. This approach reduces environmental impact and produces high-purity exfoliated graphite for applications in energy storage, composites, and environmental remediation, supporting circular economy strategies.

Dr. José E. Arévalo-Fester is a Venezuelan chemist and researcher with a Ph.D. from the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, where he focused on the supramolecular adsorption of dyes onto carbon nanotubes. He has over two decades of experience in advanced materials science, including the synthesis and characterization of carbon nanostructures, lithium-ion battery recycling, and homogeneous catalysis. Dr. Arévalo-Fester has authored numerous scientific publications on nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, and sustainable materials. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, where he works on graphite recovery and valorization from spent batteries, contributing to circular economy strategies in energy storage and environmental applications.

Currently, the ashes from incineration of municipal solid waste, biomass, and sewage sludge incineration are underutilized in the EU due to a lack of technical solutions, symbiotic value chains, and coverage by the EU regulations. The EU-funded project AshCycle explores how incineration ashes from municipal waste, biomass and sewage sludge can become valuable secondary resources. By developing novel technologies for leaching, adsorption and extraction, the project enables recovery of heavy metals, rare earth elements, and nutrients. A key focus is on using ashes directly or as activated materials for recovering nutrients from wastewater. The project also demonstrates how Industrial-Urban Symbiosis can support circular value chains. This presentation will outline the status of the research and report the most important and promising findings.

Lisbeth M. Ottosen leads the sector development project Circular Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark.. Lisbeth holds an MSc in Civil Engineering and a PhD in Environmental Technology. Over the years, she has published more than 180 peer-reviewed articles in ISI-indexed journals, reflecting her significant contributions to sustainable materials research and circular economy initiatives.

In a rapidly changing world, where conflicts, supply chain disruptions and trade embargos are the new normal, building resilience has become a key priority. One often overlooked opportunity lies in the ashes from incineration. Instead of treating these ashes as mere residues, they can be transformed into a source of increased resilience. Nutrients needed for our food production, precipitation chemicals needed for our drinking water as well as critical and strategic raw materials needed for our industrial production can all be recovered from incineration ashes. This presentation will highlight opportunities, challenges, and strategic importance of these recoveries, while also sharing reflections on what it takes to move from promising concepts to commercially available solutions.

Henric is an expert and project manager with extensive experience in waste and resource flows. He has studied a wide range of waste types as well as different technologies and opportunities for waste recovery. This includes a background in research, focused on recycling of trace elements from MSWI ashes. Several recent projects have been related to the mapping of resources needed for an increased resilience and possibilities to recycle those resources. From this, he has gained a strong understanding of how new recycling technologies can be applied to different materials, combined with a holistic perspective that enables more efficient resource management across the entire value chain.

Fly ash and/or air pollution control residues (both here referred to as FA) are the solid residues produced in municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plants. FA is a hazardous waste due to its high content of toxic elements, soluble salts, and organic pollutants. However, the quantity produced and the content of valuable components make this material a suitable secondary source for recovery. In general, hydrometallurgical treatment to recover salts and metals (mainly Zn) seems to be the most promising way to treat FA. The main products of these processes are usually pure Zn (FLUREC technology) or Zn-rich filter cake (FLUWA and HALOSEP). However, more products can be obtained within the process if it is designed appropriately. The presentation provides a summary of the necessary modifications and the design of an acid extraction process aimed at producing a Zn-rich filter cake, gypsum, industrial salts, and desalinated water, which has the potential to be reused in the technology. It details the results of testing the proposed modifications at semi-pilot or pilot scale, conducted at the TERMIZO MSWI plant. The proposed process offers several technological and environmental advantages. The presentation will also cover the findings of the feasibility study and discuss the prospects for implementing the process in MSWI plants.

Ekaterina Korotenko is a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences. She earned her degree in environmental chemistry and technology from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. Her research focuses on waste management and urban mining. She likes to combine optimisation, modelling and statistical analysis skills with chemical engineering. She participates in several projects focused on the recovery of valuable components from various types of industrial and metal-bearing wastes, as well as the utilisation of solid residues from MSWI plants.

Municipal solid waste incineration generates fly ash, a hazardous waste containing heavy metals that pose environmental risks. Effective, sustainable extraction and recovery strategies are needed to manage this issue. This study investigates electrodialytic separation as a promising technique for extracting these metals. This study aims to determine how ash characteristics and pretreatment methods impact the electrodialytic separation of heavy metals. Two distinct ash sources- acid-washed desalted ash (DA) and mixed raw ash (MRA) – were used, with an additional water-washed MRA (WWMRA) sample to assess pretreatment effects. Experiments were conducted in a three-compartment cell at varying current intensities (25-150 mA). The results showed that increasing current intensity generally enhances extraction efficiencies, with Cu and Zn exceeding a 75% target extraction efficiency at higher intensities. Overall, MRA recorded the highest extraction efficiencies for Cu and Zn with the lowest energy consumption, while WWMRA excelled in As extraction, and DA showed the highest Pb extraction but was the most energy-intensive. The study concludes that ash source and pretreatment strategy significantly influence electrodialytic separation performance, which is critical for optimizing metal recovery from MSWI fly ash.

Godfrred Appiah is a PhD researcher at DTU Sustain – Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). With a background in environmental engineering and technology, his work focuses on developing innovative (bio)processes to address global environmental challenges, particularly in the treatment of soil, air, and water impacted by waste and pollution. Godfred is especially interested in the extraction, recovery, and reuse of (bio)resources, bioenergy, and critical elements such as heavy metals and phosphorus from waste materials. His research explores sustainable solutions for reclaiming value from a wide range of organic and inorganic waste streams, including wastewater, sludges, food waste residues, digestates, and municipal solid waste incineration ashes. His goal is to transform these often ‘untreatable’ materials into useful resources through environmentally sound technologies.

In 2023, 34 materials were identified as critical raw materials (CRMs) for the EU, based on their high supply risk and strong economic importance. Recycling and other circular strategies are seen as a way to mitigate criticality. This work presents a pragmatic methodology to prioritise product streams for CRM recovery at a product’s end-of-life. The methodology is demonstrated for batteries in Belgium.

Margot Coppens obtained a PhD in chemical engineering from KU Leuven (Belgium) in 2023. She continued as a researcher in sustainable materials management at VITO, focusing on the recovery of critical raw materials from the anthropogenic mine.

Waste from the production of batteries comes in the form of “off-specifications” when the cathode material is tested and does not meet the quality requirements of battery applications. This secondary resource has significant potential to be recycled in the battery value chain if efficient technologies for the recovery of the CRMs containing this waste are developed. Advanced solvometallurgy coupled to organic-based membrane electrolysis is a novel approach proposed for the valorization of lithium as a battery-grade Li2CO3 and the side-production of cobalt, nickel and manganese from waste cathode material. The studied solvometallurgical process relies on low-footprint organic leaching solutions with high Li selectivity and yields at low temperature, and the reusability of the organic solvents. The lithium containing leachate is subject to electrolysis tests using organic-based membranes in the experimental cell set up. Very good results in terms of Li yield migration to the cathode are achieved with the simultaneous recovery of the organic extractant. In addition, a carbonation method producing high purity grade lithium carbonate was established and tested.

Dr. Lourdes Yurramendi is Chemist Ph. D. by the University of the Basque Country (Spain). At present she develops her professional activity in the Waste Valorisation Department integrated in the Energy, Climate and Urban Transition Unit, where she has been working as project director since 1988. She was also responsible for the Organic Environmental Laboratory for ten years. She has large experience in the management of projects and consortium coordination, at national and European level, in activities related to environmental contamination diagnosis, in the development of technologies for waste treatment (recovery of strategic and critical elements, by hydro, iono and pyrometallurgical technologies) and in methodologies for the evaluation of the environmental impact in the reutilization of wastes as secondary raw materials.

The rapid growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy has increased demand for critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and iridium. End-of-life lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and PEM electrolysers are valuable secondary resources, but current recycling methods are inefficient and environmentally taxing. This research from CIIAE proposes an integrated recycling approach using green hydrometallurgy, solvometallurgy, and advanced solvents—including supercritical CO₂ and deep eutectic solvents (DES). A key focus is on recovering not only metals but also functional fluorinated polymers like PVDF and PFSA, enabling their reuse in new electrode and membrane systems. The goal is to create scalable, low-impact, closed-loop recycling processes aligned with circular economy principles and industrial needs.

Dr. Moheddine Wehbie is a Senior Researcher in Circular Economy at CIIAE (Centro Ibérico de Investigación en Almacenamiento Energético), specializing in the recycling and reuse of end-of-life energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen electrolysers. His research focuses on the recovery of critical battery materials including graphite, PVDF, Nafion, and strategic metals like Li, Mn, Co, Ir, Ru, Pt… He also has extensive experience in the recycling of WEEE, particularly LED lamps. Dr. Wehbie holds a PhD in Separation Chemistry, Materials, and Processes from the Institute of Separation Chemistry in Marcoule, and a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship, Deep Tech, and Innovation from the school of Mines Paris – PSL.

As part of the European RENOVATE Project (WP4: “CAM Recovery – Solvometallurgy and Direct Recycling”), this study investigates the use of a ternary deep eutectic solvent (DES) made from choline chloride, lactic acid, and tartaric acid for recovering lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. Recovery tests were first done with commercial NMC 811 cathode material, followed by trials using black mass from spent batteries. The DES was optimized via mixture design, and thermally assisted extractions were conducted for one hour. Metal recovery rates were measured using ICP-OES. The most efficient DES composition was then used for black mass recovery, and the resulting precipitate served as precursor material for resynthesizing second-life cathodes.

PhD in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Industrial Innovation (XXXV cycle) and MSc in Chemistry (LM-54) from the University of Pavia. Currently a postdoc researcher at the Department of Chemistry in Pavia. Her research focuses on the recycling of spent lithium ion batteries focusing the attention on cathodes, anodes and electrolytes. She is involved in the RENOVATE project, developing innovative, circular economy solutions for the European battery value chain.

TBAuctions is one of Europe’s largest digital auction platforms, operating under trusted brands like Troostwijk, Klaravik, Vavato, and PS Auction. The company facilitates B2B online auctions of used business assets across sectors such as construction, agriculture, transport, and industrial equipment. By enabling the resale and reuse of surplus and end-of-life goods, TBAuctions plays a critical role in advancing the circular economy. Its platform extends the lifecycle of products, reduces unnecessary waste, and minimizes the demand for new resource-intensive production.

A presentation/session could explore how TBAuctions combines technology, data, and sustainability to build a scalable model for circular commerce. Attendees could learn how the company’s auction ecosystem contributes to reduced carbon emissions, improved asset utilization, and responsible resource management—benefitting both business and the planet.

As ESG Director at TBAuctions Volker oversees the ESG performance and reporting of the organization. Volker has over 15 years of experience in sustainability, ESG and EHS, and is passionate about developing and implementing strategies, programs, policies, and training that foster a culture of environmental and social responsibility, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement.

Fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) combine high strength with low weight and are widely used in transport and construction. Their complex composition, however, makes recycling difficult, and most waste is currently landfilled or incinerated. This project develops cost-efficient, sustainable methods to recycle thermoset FRPs through pyrolysis, enabling recovery of both fibres and valuable chemicals. Waste from boat masts, hulls and bathroom units has been characterised and pyrolysed at laboratory and demonstration scale, with process parameters evaluated for their effect on product quality. Recovered fibres are reused in new FRP materials, while molecules from the pyrolysis oil are purified and used to synthesise fresh resins. Contaminants are managed through targeted strategies. The full recycling chain is assessed for carbon footprint and techno-economic viability, supporting industrial circularity and future commercialisation.

Tommy Öman is a Senior Scientist at RISE, focusing on composite materials and production. He holds a PhD in Chemistry and works with recycling of fibre-reinforced polymers and the development of bio-based composites to support more sustainable material solutions.

This study examines how Swedish organizations approach the use and lifecycle of laptops within the framework of the circular economy. Based on a survey of 118 organizations, the study explores practices and challenges related to product lifespan, reuse, disposal, and procurement strategies. The findings highlight gaps between policy and practice, especially in the preference for new devices over remanufactured ones.

Jelena has expertise in production systems and business models for remanufacturing. By applying her analytical decision tool, named Remometer® RRL (Remanufacturing Readiness Level), manufacturers can assess benefits and advance their remanufacturing practices.

Annica has extensive experience in research and government work, with a focus on mapping and managing the material and resource flows of society. Previous research has included mapping and quantifying stocks of metals in subsurface cables and assessing their potential for urban mining.

Implementation knowledge in sustainable business model innovation has not yet been achieved due to challenges related to the design and implementation gap. By focusing on the process from design to implementation in sustainable business model innovation amongst small and medium-sized enterprises, novel contributions to the field can be achieved and push the current research frontier. The purpose of this research is to explore the design and implementation gap of sustainable business model innovation in order to enable new value opportunities. This is made possible with a qualitative methodology by utilizing semi-structured interviews where entrepreneurs highlight their experience and current challenges surrounding sustainable business model innovation. The originality of this research pinpoints that iterations are a vital part of sustainable business model innovation, where the entrepreneurs are making new decisions to overcome the challenges and bridge the design and implementation gap.

Implementation knowledge in sustainable business model innovation remains limited due to challenges in bridging the gap between design and implementation. This research explores that gap among small and medium-sized enterprises to identify new value opportunities. Using a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews, entrepreneurs share experiences and challenges. Findings highlight that iterative processes are key, as entrepreneurs continually adapt to overcome barriers and connect design with implementation.

Peter Tom Jones is Director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals (SIM²), a team of 240 researchers focused on the extraction, processing, and recycling of energy-transition metals. With a PhD in Metallurgy and over 20 years of experience, he also co-founded the SOLVOMET Centre, offering circular hydrometallurgy expertise to industry. Jones has led or contributed to 30+ EU-funded projects on sustainable metallurgy and critical raw materials. He’s also an author and documentary presenter, with recent work including Europe’s Lithium Paradox (2025), exploring the challenges of building a climate-neutral, circular economy in Europe.