The parallel sessions during CPC’23 are organized in several thematic tracks. No need to register in advance, you can choose on the spot.
Each session will discuss and identify key issues and dependencies throughout the value chain of circular plastics. Each session will take about 1 hour.
These are the sessions we have in store for you:
Session 1 – Design for circular economy
moderated by Dr. Michael Villet, Covestro
A diverse panel of experts will offer their hands-on insights on the ambitious target of making all packaging plastics recyclable by 2030.
A critical question under discussion will be: In the face of diverse recycling pathways, to which routes should design adapt to have the maximum impact in terms of quality and quantity of recycled material?
This session aims to foster a constructive dialogue on the challenges and potential solutions in the realm of circular design. It will immerse us in the complexities of Design for Circularity, with an emphasis on the PPWD (Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive).
Speakers:
- Jean-Emile Potaufeux, Technical Manager Plastics Recyclers Europe, RecyClass
- Prof. Jaap den Doelder, Professor TU/e & Principal Scientist Dow
- Dr. Sanjeev Das, Global Packaging Director Unilever
Session 2 – Thermochemical recycling
moderated by Dr. Ton Vries, BioBTX
The session on thermochemical recycling will focus on several promising recent advancements. Exceptional speakers from academia and industry will share their insights.
The discussion will touch upon the next steps in technological innovation related to catalytic and standard pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction. Our speakers will explore both the technical aspects as the practical considerations, including the requirements for feedstock and the associated energy costs.
Speakers:
- Prof. Erik Heeres, Professor Chemical Technology at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
- Niels Schenk, Chief Technology Officer at BioBTX.
- Stefano Radice, RD&T Scientist at Solvay Specialty Polymers
Session 3 – Mechanical recycling
moderated by Prof. Kim Ragaert, Maastricht University
Is innovation in mechanical recycling nearing its limit? Have we reached the pinnacle of what we can achieve in terms of quality and tonnage with our current techniques? Or are there still chemical and physical options inside and outside the extruder to be excelled?
The session on mechanical recycling will ignite a debate on what polymer science can still achieve. The speakers will provide different perspectives on which challenges within, and outside the extruder can still be achieved through polymer science.
Speakers:
- Prof. Ivo Vankelecom, Professor Membrane Technology at KU Leuven
- François Essers, Innovation manager at QCP
Session 4 – System integration and business models
moderated by Dr. Jan Harm Urbanus, TNO
In this session, we aim to expose the bottlenecks and pain points in our current system. The goal is to create a sense of urgency that will drive us towards a more collaborative approach to waste management and recycling.
In a circular economy, the line between consumer and supplier blurs, as every link in the chain supplies value to the next. In this unique scenario, the traditional consumer becomes an integral part of the value chain. But how can we effectively include end consumers and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in this new narrative?
Speakers:
- Edgar Schwandt, Principal Consultant at New Foresight
- Dirk Groot, Zwerfinator
Session 5 – Sorting, Washing and Characterization
moderated by Dpl. Ing. Martin Bender, HTP
Join us in the early afternoon for a exploration of sorting, washing, and characterization technologies in the recycling sector. We’ll provide an up-to-date picture of the current landscape, including recent research and developments.
Are we at a stage where off-the-shelf technologies can get the job done? Or do we need to tailor our approaches to deliver specific feedstocks for specific processing technologies?
Speakers:
- Dr. Marcel van Eijk, R&D manager, NTCP
- Dipl.- Ing. Jörg Kriescher, Area sales manager STEINERT GmbH,
Session 6 – Chemical depolymerization
moderated by Dr. Marco Brons, Cure Technology
This session promises to offer a comprehensive perspective on emerging chemical depolymerization technologies.
We’ll deliver an overview of what is possible, examining both the environmental and ecological impacts as well as the commercial relevance and implementation of these technologies in the circular economy.
Speakers:
- Jan Jager, Professor circular and sustainable plastics at NHL Stenden
- Martijn Broeren, Researcher at CE Delft
- Jesper van Berkel, PET technology and business manager at Indorama
Session 7 – Logistics and Feedstock Availability
moderated by Gijs Langeveld, Polymer Science Park
The transition towards circular plastics isn’t just about recycling—it’s about reshaping economies. It’s about ensuring the right quality of material gets to the right place at the right time.
In this session, we will focus on the challenges and opportunities in feedstock availability and logistics. What will be the sources of recycled materials needed for various applications in a circular transition of the plastic value chain? How should these materials be distributed most effectively?
Speakers:
- Irdanto Saputra Lase, Doctoral researcher at Ghent University
- Henk Kras, Manager Sales and Trading at Kras Recycling
- Prof. Ernst Worrell, Professor Energy, Resources & Technological Change at the Utrecht University
- Rein Hintzen, Director and Founder of Horizonteer
Session 8 – The Innovators for Circular Plastics
moderated by Paco Rutten, ISPT
In the fast-paced world of circular plastics, startups and scale-ups are uniquely poised to drive innovation and swiftly respond to market needs. Simultaneously, these small yet dynamic organizations must navigate and integrate into an already established ecosystem.
This session is dedicated to highlighting the innovative work being done by these small yet agile organizations.
Speakers:
- Bouwe van Neerbos, Co-founder of Impackt
- Floris Gerritsen, Co-founder of Veridis
- Ton van Rooij, Project Director at Filigrade
- Wouter van Neerbos, Co-founder of Obbotec
- Prof. Edward Kosior, CEO and Founder at Nextek (NEXTLOOPP)