Projects

The goal of OptiCWaste is to develop a decision support tool for implementing recovery and recycling technologies of plastic waste and biogenic residues to close carbon circularity gaps and exploit climate mitigation potentials on a municipal level in Southeast Asia and the EU. Based on the mapping of carbon flows in wastes and residues, effective measures are identified, and solutions are developed in a systemic context involving relevant stakeholders. Case studies in different socio-economic settings serve to (i) develop a flexible operative decision support tool and specific inventory data for identifying climate-optimal and resource efficient recovery and recycling schemes, (ii) learn from successful waste management practices and the comparison of enabling and limiting factors, (iii) develop roadmaps on sustainable waste management practices together with key local stakeholders, and (iv) build capacities for effective waste management on the regional level. Therefore, the four project partners from Austria, Germany, Indonesia, and Thailand will jointly work on case studies in Germany, Thailand, and Indonesia. The methodology involves the utilization of environmental systems analysis tools such as Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as well as stakeholder analysis and scenario analysis to evaluate the carbon flows in the waste management systems and to identify optimal technological set-ups for the effective recovery and recycling of plastic waste and biogenic residues from major waste streams. Major project outputs are an MFA-based operative decision support tool and regionally specific roadmaps for the circular management of carbon through resource utilization and recycling, which will contribute to mitigate climate change, combat plastic pollution, and reduce the reliance on finite fossil resources.


Laufzeit: 10/2025 – 09/2028
Fördergeber: BMFTR - Bundesministerium Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt
Projektleitung/-bearbeitung (RMAT):Prof. Dr. David Laner / Malika Arstan M.Sc.

The PC-PP-4PKW project aims to develop a new recycling concept to process post-consumer polypropylene (PP) from various waste streams, such as lightweight packaging, end-of-life vehicles, commercial waste, and bulky waste, into high-quality recycled plastic suitable for use in technical components, particularly in automotive interiors. To achieve this, suitable sorting and reprocessing methods are tested and optimized with respect to the material properties of the resulting recycled plastic. Based on these investigations, a database is established that links process parameters, material characteristics, and reprocessing data, serving as the foundation for practice-oriented guidelines for high-quality PP recycling. In addition, material flow analyses, life cycle assessments, and cost–benefit analyses are conducted to evaluate the recycling potentials as well as the ecological and economic impacts of post-consumer PP recycling. The overall goal is to create environmentally and economically attractive recycling pathways for PP waste and to promote the use of recycled plastic in technically demanding applications.
The project is carried out jointly by the Research Group on Resource Management and Solid Waste Engineering and the Plastics Engineering Group at the University of Kassel.


Laufzeit: 11/2025 – 10/2027
Fördergeber: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE)
Projektleitung/-bearbeitung (RMAT):Prof. Dr. David Laner

The BioLoop project aims to develop a new and environmentally optimized recycling scheme for plastic films. In this recycling process, plastic polymers are broken down into smaller pieces (so-called oligomers) with the help of enzymes, followed by a process in which these pieces are converted into high-quality products. The main challenges of this research project are to reduce the plastic films to very small particle sizes (50 μm) in order to create optimal starting conditions for the enzymes, to identify enzymes that are suitable for breaking down the plastic films, and to process the enzyme degradation products into new high-quality plastic products. The novel recycling system will help to significantly increase the recycling rates for plastic films, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the plastics industry and reduce plastic pollution in the environment. The project is being carried out by the research groups of Resource Management & Solid Waste Engineering and Plastics Engineering at the University of Kassel in cooperation with the Microbiology and Biotechnology research groups group at the University of Hamburg.

Duration: 02/2025 – 01/2029
Funding agency: VolkswagenStiftung
Contact (RMAT):Prof. Dr. David Laner / Lucia Aguirre Molina M.Sc.

The WQ.Hessen study is investigating the potential for heat supply in Hessian municipalities through rivers, smaller sewage treatment plants and heat from waste incineration. The research group on Resource Management and Solid Waste Engineering is working on the sub-project for heat supply through thermal waste treatment plants and the use of municipal biogenic waste and residual materials for heat generation. The project is being carried out at the University of Kassel jointly by the groups of Solar and Systems Engineering, Resource Management and Solid Waste Engineering, Urban Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management and is headed by apl. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Jordan.

Duration: 09/2024 – 07/2025
Funding agency: LEA LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen GmbH
Contact: Prof. Dr. David Laner / Iveta Vateva M.Sc.

Joint project, externally funded
IMMEC - Integrated Modelling of Material efficiency and Environmental impacts of building materials Cycles
Based on resource-saving principles, circular economy policies strive to reuse, recycle, or reprocess waste materials. Accordingly, whole supply chains need to be revamped to rely increasingly on end-of-life treatment rather than raw material extraction. In this project, we aim at modelling the plastic stocks of buildings and infrastructure in Germany to analyze the potential presence of contaminants, the recycling potential of plastics in these buildings, as well as the health and environmental impacts of the whole value chains. The project is funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the research is conducted in collaboration with the SUSTAIN group at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).

Duration: 05/2022 - 11/2025
Funding agency: DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V.
Project management: Prof. Dr. David Laner / Dr.-Ing. Sarah Schmidt