ELEMENTS

Dossier

A gray star

Concrete is the world’s top-selling construction material. What potential does it have for the future? And how are researchers extending its lifetime and making it more sustainable?

To the dossier

Concrete
The future of construction
How do we build more sustainably in the future? A discussion between a concrete researcher and an architect.
Concrete
A self-healing construction material
One key to reaching the goal of sustainable concrete is bacteria that fill cracks in materials on their own.
Innovation culture
The driving force
Becoming an entrepreneur during her probation period: Sarah Hintermayer about her role in driving the “WallCraft” project forward.
Construction materials
Cement: Facts and figures
Cement is a basic component of concrete that is in demand all over the world. Billions of tons of it are produced annually.

Catalysis

Enter Macbeth

To date, catalytic membrane reactors have shown what they can do only in laboratories. Researchers in Marl are working to change that in the future.

Chemical production

The Direct Route

Evonik plans to use a new method to make the production of propylene glycol more sustainable.

In my element

“And the aluminum suddenly broke”

The former BVB goalie Wolfgang “Teddy” de Beer talks about aluminum goalposts and the legendary goalpost collapse in Madrid.

Foresight

The future of nutrition

From cultivated meat to microbiome tuning: What kinds of innovations in the field of nutrition are researchers developing all over the world?

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
Russia: Room for ambitious goals
From Red Square to the lowlands of Siberia: a portrait of the geographically largest country in the world.
Look at the photo gallery
Evonik Country
Austria: Toward new horizons
Austria’s attractions include magnificent mountain landscapes, classical culture, and innovative companies.
Look at the photo gallery
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

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Issues of Elements in the archive

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

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