Chemical Recycling Research Hubs

The Carbon Cycle Lab is setting a new standard in sustainability with its cutting-edge approach to chemical recycling. Developed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), this research hub is tackling one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges -- plastic waste. Unlike traditional recycling, which struggles to process complex and contaminated plastics, CCLab breaks them down into their fundamental raw materials, enabling a truly circular economy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

This innovative method recovers valuable resources and prevents plastic waste from ending up in landfills or incinerators. By leveraging knowledge from KIT’s bioliq® project, which successfully converted biological residues into synthetic fuels, CCLab is refining chemical recycling technologies for large-scale industrial applications. The goal is to transform non-recyclable plastics into usable raw materials that can be reintegrated into manufacturing, reducing carbon emissions and stabilizing resource supply chains.

As global demand for sustainable solutions grows, CCLab stands at the forefront of reshaping the future of waste management. KIT’s initiative is a significant step toward a cleaner, greener planet by proving that even the most difficult-to-recycle plastics can have a second life.

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