Projects
LCPE is involved in a number of research projects in the fields of plastic and organic waste valorization, including EU funded projects.
Current projects (to be continued)
ADD-INSPECT(2025-2028)
Develop a predictive method that links additive composition to degradation behaviour in mechanical and chemical plastic recycling, enabling the anticipation of risks from degradation products and supporting guidelines for safer additive use and more robust recycling processes Contact: Prof. Steven De Meester (e-mail) Funding: FWO |
Bilateral projects(... - ...) Other bilateral projects
Details cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality agreements with industrial partners. |
BioSolveCycle(2025-2028)
Development of a sustainable biosolvent-based recycling technology towards increasing the quality and purity of recyclates Contact: Isabela Felizea Daras (e-mail) Funding: DPI |
CLEANpack(2024-2028)
Systematically analyze and improve advanced mechanical (physical) recycling technologies to enable closed-loop recycling of polyolefin-based food packaging, providing objective scientific insights that can guide policy and investment decisions Contact: Loren Van Schelvergem (e-mail) Partners: Maastricht University, LyondellBasell, BASF Chemetall, Danone, KraftHeinz Funding: NWO |
COOCK Map4Plastics(2025-2027)
Map unrecycled end‑of‑life plastics, identify circularity bottlenecks, and propose feasible strategies and solutions that enable industry to develop new circular routes for these plastic streams Contact: Martijn Roosen (e-mail) Partners: Catalisti, Universiteit Antwerpen, VITO Funding: VLAIO |
Interreg BioColEol(2025-2028)
Focus on developing bio-based dyes from curcumin and other carotenoids which will be used in biopolymers for textiles and packaging Contact: Robbe De Bisschop (e-mail) Partners: Centexbel, Avans Hogeschool, Universiteit Maastricht Funding: Interreg |
Interreg CIRCOPLAST(2024-2028)
Develop an innovative and sustainable process for removing brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from plastic waste Contact: Rim Bitar (e-mail) Partners: Centexbel, CNRS, VITO, Université de Lille, Materia Nova, CREPIM Funding: Interreg |
Interreg R-EU-CYCLE(2024-2027)
Increase the recyclability of plastic food packaging by bringing together actors in the food packaging chain across borders Contact: Loren Van Schelvergem (e-mail) Partners: EuraMaterials, Pack4Food, Wagralim, Agria Grand Est Funding: Interreg |
Leerstoel Dissolution recycling(2025-2029)
Targets the energy transition goals related to renewable energy in the North Sea and biofuels Contact: Prof. Steven De Meester (e-mail) Partners: Provincie Zeeland, PSLoop |
North-C-Blade(2023-2026)
Targets the energy transition goals related to renewable energy in the North Sea and biofuels Contact: Thien Nguyen (e-mail) Partners: North Sea Port Flanders, ENGIE Laborelec, ArcelorMittal Belgium, INOVYN Funding: Energy Transition Fund of the Belgian Federal Government |
PROSPER(2024-2028)
Aims to enable large-scale, economically viable sorting and recycling of bio-based plastics by developing and demonstrating advanced AI-supported detection technologies and sustainable recycling pathways that integrate seamlessly into Europe's existing waste management systems Contact: Shreyash Gujar (e-mail) Partners: 17 partners Funding: CBEJU |
R3PACK(2024-2026)
Non-household plastic packaging: Rethink, Reuse, Recycle Contact: Tobias De Somer (e-mail), Nils Vermeeren (e-mail) Partners: POM West-Vlaanderen, Centexbel, Howest Funding: EFRO, Fonds voor Innovatie & Ondernemen, Provincie West-Vlaanderen |
SCARPA(2026-2029)
Train a new generation of experts capable of enabling true footwear circularity by integrating circular design, consumer behaviour, advanced recycling technologies and value‑chain sustainability into future shoe systems Contact: Prof. Steven De Meester (e-mail) Partners: 8 participants and 20 partners Funding: Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement: 101227206) |
Syschemiq(2022-2026)
The Tri-lateral Rhine-Meuse Euregion will demonstrate in a systemic approach how to align regional stakeholders to make the next step in plastic recycling, overcoming the main technical and non-technical barriers for a regional circular plastics economy Contact: Alexandra Schmuck (e-mail) Partners: 21 consortium partners in industry, science, education, government, cities and EU networks Funding: Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement: 101059909) |
Finished Projects
Baekeland Oleon(2017-2021)
Renewable raw materials in the oleochemical industry Contact: Pieter Nachtergaele (e-mail) |
BOF Natural dyes(2017-2021)
Natural dyes from food waste Contact: Kim Phan (e-mail) |
Catalisti CYCLOPS(2022-2026)
Developing and optimizing a novel reductive depolymerization process based on heterogenous catalysis, and secondly, selectively depolymerizing waste mixtures of heteropolymers, viz. oxygenated polymers (polyethers, PEs and PCs) into high added value polyols Contact: Amin Tehrani (e-mail) |
Catalisti ICON PROFIT(2017-2020)
Plastic recuperation and valorisation fit for use Contact: Ruben Demets (e-mail) |
Catalisti ICON MATTER(2018-2020)
Mechanical and Thermochemical Recycling of Mixed Plastic Waste Contact: Martijn Roosen (e-mail) |
Catalisti ICON P2PC(2019-2022)
Pyrolysis of waste plastics Contact: Waheed Zeb (e-mail) |
COOCK Circopack(2019-2022)
Future packaging policy for the circular economy Contact: Martijn Roosen (e-mail) |
Debond(2023-2025) Develop coated materials and multilayer films that can be selectively separated using triggers such as light, heat, or UV, through an integrated approach that includes designing smart additives, optimizing interlayers and interfaces, and improving product design, dismantling, and recycling processes Contact: Shreyash Gujar (e-mail) |
H2020 REACT(2019-2022)
Managing the waste acrylic textiles Contact: Brecht Tomme (e-mail) |
H2020 Circular FoodPack(2021-2025)
Circular packaging for direct food-contact applications Contact: Martijn Roosen (e-mail) |
Interreg ALPO(2017-2020) New polymer-based materials from microalgae Contact: Prof. Steven De Meester (e-mail) |
Interreg PSYCHE(2018-2022) 
Conversion of plastic waste to basic chemicals via gasification Contact: Sibel Ügdüler (e-mail) |
Interreg PlastiCity(2019-2022)
Industrial and commercial plastic waste recycling in urban environments Contact: Kerstin Kleinhans (e-mail) |
ITN AGREFINE(2020-2024)
New raw material from agricultural residues Contact: Prof. Steven De Meester (e-mail) |
Macerate(2020-2021)  Delamination and deinking of plastic waste Contact: Martijn Roosen (e-mail) |
Marie Curie EJD: C-Planet(2020-2024) 
Circular economy for plastics Contact: Rita Kol (e-mail) |
Moonshot SBO Multilayer(2021-2022) 
Combined dissolution, delamination and catalysis approach to upcycle multilayers Contact: Sibel Ügdüler (e-mail) |
Moonshot cSBO Renovate(2021-2022) 
Solvent-resistant nano- and ultrafiltration: opening new perspectives in plastic recycling, assess the potential of solvent-stable and functionalized ceramic nano- and ultrafiltration membranes to separate and clean polymers in solvent environments towards high-end dissolution recycling of plastics (e.g. LDPE, HIPS, ABS, PC, PLA, PET) Contact: Elisabetta Carrieri (e-mail) |
Moonshot SBO Prefer(2021-2025) 
The plastics refinery: No more waste Contact: Prof. Steven De Meester (e-mail) |
PolyAl(2021-2025)
Develop a scalable process for the chemical recycling of PolyAl into recycled naphtha Contact: Thien Nguyen (e-mail) |
Promipol(2022-2024)
Develop a sustainable, low-impact value chain that converts CO2-derived building blocks into microbial proteins and bioplastics, optimizing their production and properties for real-world applications such as food packaging Contact: Shreyash Gujar (e-mail) |
Remove2Reclaim(2020-2023)
Aims to remove TiO2 pigment (and possibly other additives) from different plastic waste streams (e.g. LDPE, PS, HIPS, PVC), achieving the recycling of both, polymer and pigment, through dissolution-based recycling Contact: Elisabetta Carrieri (e-mail) |
SBO Watch(2019-2023) 
New disruptive technology for the conversion of plastic waste to chemicals via catalytic fast pyrolysis Contact: Martin Skelton (e-mail) |
SBO Solvation(2019-2023) 
Separate polymers from their additives through dissolution-precipitation Contact: Ruben Denolf (e-mail) |
Vlaanderen Circulair(2018-2022) 
Indicators for the circularity of products Contact: Gustavo Moraga (e-mail) |
VLIR: food and textile waste recycling in Kenya(2018-2021) 
Renewable dyes from nut waste Contact: Benson Dulo (e-mail) |
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A glance at some typical results
Within and outside these projects, we are looking for cost-effective solutions towards high-end in the circular economy.
See below some examples of results. For more information, please contact prof. Steven De Meester (e-mail)
