Material recycling as a driver for sustainable materials development

How can material recycling accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable society – and what role can science play? These were the questions at the heart of a recent workshop on materials recycling, co-organised by the Ångström Materials Academy (ÅMA) and the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE).

“We are all part of a transition where circularity is no longer optional. Materials, energy, and technology are deeply interconnected – and recycling is central to securing resources and reducing our climate footprint,” said Petter Bertilsson Forsberg, one of the organisers, in his introduction.

Three themes – from design to digitalisation

The workshop brought together researchers, industry representatives, and students around three central themes, illustrating the wide scope of recycling-related innovation.

Design for recyclability

David Maibach from Polestar R&D and Laura Altenschmidt from Uppsala University discussed how choices made already at the design stage can enable more efficient recycling and material recovery. By integrating circular principles early in product development, industries can reduce waste and extend product lifecycles.

Advanced separation and recycling processes

Presentations by Minna Hakkarainen from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Jonas Forssell and Björn Mannerfelt from Stena Recycling showcased new approaches for improving material separation, purity, and yield — crucial steps in replacing virgin resources at industrial scale.

Digital and data-driven circular solutions

Finally, Magnus Ekelund from Sandvik Coromant and Fang Liu from Chalmers University of Technology highlighted the potential of digitalisation, data sharing, and traceability to enable smarter, data-driven circular systems.

Turning ideas into collaboration

The day concluded with group discussions and networking aimed at identifying new opportunities for joint projects.
Participants were encouraged to contact ÅMA and the Uppsala University Partnership Office for support in turning ideas into feasibility studies, project proposals, or new collaborations.

“Workshops like this are essential for building connections between academia and industry. Together, we can accelerate the transition toward sustainable materials and circular production,” said Petter Bertilsson Forsberg.