ELEMENTS

Dossier

See You Later

The future is circular—how a renewable circular economy continuously and sustainably recovers used materials and energy.

To the dossier

Recycling
Long live plastic
Evonik researchers are working to develop a process for chemical recycling that will make it possible to recycle PET plastic waste.
The circular economy
Closing the circle
Lauren Kjeldsen is promoting circularity at Evonik. The ultimate aim is to create a fully functioning circular economy that works without fossil fuels.
Recycling
The plastic cycle
On the path to achieving a true circular economy: Evonik is working on innovative processes in order to reduce plastic waste.
The circular economy
Plastic recycling: Facts and figures
A sustainable cycle: The recycling of plastic requires innovative technologies. An overview.
Plastic
Pathways to the circular economy
Bernhard Bauske and Ingo Sartorius discuss the steps that are needed for the optimal recycling of plastic.

In my element

The challenge of blue

Hideki Kubota loves his job as a pyrotechnician. In this article he explains why the color blue is a challenge and how the element copper plays a role in his work.

Tablets

Robust and fast-dissolving

ODTs are practical, but they crumble easily. The auxiliary material RXCIPIENTS improves their properties.

Biologicals

Full effect

How PEGylation increases the residence time of biotechnologically manufactured active pharmaceutical ingredients and supports their effect.

Medical history

200 years of vaccination

Vaccination saves lives. A look back at over 200 years of successful struggle against viruses, bacteria, and deadly diseases.

Innovations

Perspectives in overview

Research for a better future: Our Perspectives illuminates pioneering ideas and innovations from around the world.

All focal areas

An overview of the dossiers

Reports, interviews, and graphics: Our dossiers bring together everything worth knowing about the main themes of ELEMENTS.

From the sections

Research and Innovation

Chemical production

A Fantastic Shortcut

No diversions: Researchers from Evonik and the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis have succeeded in converting butadiene directly to adipic acid.

Additives

Good inside and out

A lot of food is thrown away or lost. Coatings and additives in plastic packaging are helping to reduce food waste.

Nutrition

A Plentiful and Sustainable Diet

Nearly ten billion people will be living on the planet in 2050—but what will all these people eat?

Markets and Regions

Additive manufacturing

3D printing: Facts and figures

Overview: global demand, most used materials and key players.

Collage of people, skyscrapers and soap bubbles

Foresight

The world in 2040 – scenarios for the future

What will the world look like in 2040? Futurologists at Evonik have developed five scenarios.

Food production

Agriculture: Facts and figures

The amount of resources required by agriculture, how much surface area it requires—and how the harvests are used.

People and Visions

Foresight

The Development of Hygiene

From bacterial infections to COVID-19, advances in hygiene have always played a key role in the fight against disease.

Bioprinting

Improving patients’ quality of life

Wai Yee Yeong talks about the potential benefits of bioprinting for medicine.

In my element

“I’m a 14-year-old chemistry student”

Alexander Mottl is studying chemistry at the University of Bochum—at the age of 14. His special focus is on rare metals such as gallium.

Opinion and Debate

Economic policy

Coronavirus crisis as an opportunity

Evonik CEO Christian Kullmann is calling for a comprehensive Sustainable Future Deal.

Europe

EU: The key is to be close to the people

Fabiana Scapolo, the Deputy Head of the EU Policy Lab, explains the central challenges facing Europe.

Nutrition

How to succeed at sustainable agriculture

Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein explains the steps to make organic farming possible.

Evonik Country
Indonesia: An island nation of superlatives
Almost 270 million people live in Indonesia. A journey through the country with the world’s fourth-largest population.
Look at the photo gallery
Evonik Country
China: Determination in Times of Crisis
How China is prevailing in times of crisis and thus laying the foundations for future growth.
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Evonik Country
Slovakia
Of ice hockey, impressive mountains, and big ambitions: Impressions from the Evonik country Slovakia.
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Knowledge Storage

Issues of Elements in the archive

You will find an overview of previous issues of Elements here.

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