European Federation of Chemical Engineering

The Sustainability Section is proposed with a vision to promote the rebuilding of industry using a
systemic and holistic approach and to address the critical challenges of sustainable
development as a coordinated working party.

NEWS

Towards the IRISS SSbD Roadmap: Feeding gap analysis data
Accelerating the Industrial Transition with Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design webinar
IRISS’ 2nd Internationalisation workshop: Sharing best practices in Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design Materials and Chemicals
Training for SMEs: Environmental Biodegradation Design and Case Studies in the Context of SSbD, 28 June 2024, online
Future of Plastics Conference 2024, Innovative production and recycling

EVENTS

You are welcome to become a member on Sustainability Section by following the link.

Vision and Mission of the Section

VISION

The Sustainability Section of EFCE envisions a future where chemical engineering leads the transition to sustainable development through systemic and holistic approaches, enhancing circular economy and ensuring the well-being of present and future generations. It aims to promote the rebuilding of industries that prioritize environmental, economic and social responsibility, utilizing innovative business models and technologies to create a harmonious balance between human needs and planetary viability.

MISSION

The mission of Sustainability Section is:

to reinforce European cooperation and professional activity within EFCE community on the use of sustainability as a guide in product and process development;
to provide a discourse platform within EFCE on opportunities and challenges that sustainable development poses to the professional community of chemical engineers in Europe;
to pool considerable knowledge within EFCE members with regard to the role of sustainability in the process industry and the role that chemical engineering can play to select sustainable feedstocks, design new processes and formulate sustainable product portfolios;
to identify and co-operate with key actors and allies to support an holistic view of process development, also fostering interactions across industrial groups, and actively promoting the shift to circular economy;
to promote the education of a new generation of chemical engineers as well as current engineers and decision makers to comprehend the wide range of tools and methods available to use, as well as means to evaluate and communicate the impact of their work toward sustainable development;
to promote active cooperation of experts from different Working Parties and other Sections by means of joint collaborative initiatives to sustainable development;
to provide decision makers in business, society and politics with reliable knowledge support based on scientific insight and industrial experience in all fields of interest so that decisions are effective, productive and lead the way to impactful solutions.

Section Structure

The Sustainability Section is organized into 4 subsections:

1 - Sustainable materials, products, and circular economy supply chains

Material evaluation and development, including renewable feedstocks, ....see more

2 - Systems engineering and systems thinking for sustainable manufacturing

Sustainability thinking for process design. Tools for process efficiencies, ....see more

3 - Education, training and early-stage career development

Education, training, and the need to promote sustainability to chemical engineering curricula. ....see more

4 - Environmental and Social Governance

Sustainability as a driver for social acceptance and techno-economic innovation. ....see more

Section members

MEMBER	INDUSTRY	ACADEMIA	COUNTRY
André Bardow		Professor of Energy & Process Systems Engineering, ETH Zurich	Switzerland
Aristide Giuliano		Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA)	Italy
Barlette Diego		Associate professor at the University of Salerno	Italy
Bernardo Paola		Institute of Membrane Technology (ITM-CNR)	Italy
Bisotti Filippo	SINTEF Industry		Norway
Cherubini Francesco		Professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology	Norway
Considine Mike		Professor	England
Criscuoli Alessandra		Senior Researcher, Institute on Membrane Technology, ITM-CNR University of Calabria	Italy
de Angelis Maria Grazia		Professor at University of Edinburgh	Scotland
De Feo Giovanni		Associate Professor at the University of Salerno.	Italy
de Hemptinne Jean-Charles		IFP-School Professor	France
Feise Hermann	Senior Manager Sustainability and Incentives at BASF		Germany
Figoli Alberto		Director of the Institute on Membrane Technology of the National Research Council	Italy
Flavell-While Claudia		Director Learned Society at Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)	England
Forster Andrea	DECHEMA		Germany
Gardner David	Chemical engineer Sustainability Consultant		England
Glassey Jarka		Professor at Newcastle University	England
Goergen Thomas	VP Global Alliance Management at Covestro Deutschland AG		Germany
Grimm Silko	Political Networks \| Innovation at Evonik		Germany
Helaakoski Heli	research manager of Cognitive Production Industry at VTT		Finland
Hillestad Magne		Professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology	Norway
Irabien Angel		Professor at University of Cantabria	Spain
Kaufmann Stefan	Head of Formulation Engineering & Process Development at Beiersdorf AG		Germany
Kosek Juraj		Professor at University of Chemistry and Technology Prague	Prague
Mansouri Seyed		Associate Professor, Technical University of Denmark	Denmark
Matos Henrique		Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico, ULisboa	Portugal
Mazzotti Marco		Professor of Process Engineering ETH Zurich	Switzerland
Mitsos Alexander		Professor and Laboratory Director Process Systems Engineering at RWTH Aachen University	Germany
Montastruc Ludovic		Teacher Researcher at ENSIACET - Toulouse Chemical Engineering Laboratory / Chemical Engineering Research Center	France
Nicol Francois	Veolia Environment · Research & Innovation / Process Engineering Department		France
Papchenko Kseniya		Assistant Research at University of Edinburgh	Scotland
Paulillo Andrea		Senior Research Fellow in the Chemical Engineering Department at UCL	England
Pawlucka Dorota	Global Alliances Manager at Covestro AG		Germany
Pirro Laura	R&D Chemical Engineer in Yara International		Italy
Poux Martine		Research Engineer at University of Toulouse	France
Ramirez Andrea		Professor at Delft University of Technology	Netherlands
Sainz Guillermo Diaz		Professor at University of Cantabria	Spain
Salerno Simona		Researcher at Institute on Membrane Technology of the National Research Council	Italy
Schuur Boelo		Professor at University of Twente	Netherlands
Segovia Pedro Llovera		Professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia	Spain
Shah Nilay		Professor of Process Systems Engineering at Imperial College London	England
Short Michael		University of Surrey and IChemE	England
Singh Jatinderpal	Larsen & Toubro Energy: Hydrocarbon		India
ten Kate Antoon	Principal Scientist at Nouryon		Netherlands
Veronesi Giorgio	President of EFCE		Italy
Wuensch Josef	Senior Vice President at BASF		Germany

Subsection 1 - Sustainable materials, products, and circular economy supply chains

Coordinator: Dr. Michael Short

Deputy: Dr. Thomas Görgen

Material evaluation and development, including renewable feedstocks, sustainable platform chemicals and products. Sustainable and safe materials by design (SSbD) including green solvents. Methods and tools to cope with physical and thermodynamic properties of non-conventional materials (biomass, waste, textiles, bio-based products and intermediates). Links to major projects and events in this area. Characterization of non-conventional chemicals. Review and analysis of sustainability gaps in major supply chains (e.g. plastics, fuels, specialty chemicals). Promote circularity and the need to re-enter material flows in the supply chains by re-use, and regeneration.

Subsection 2 - Systems engineering and systems thinking for sustainable manufacturing

Coordinator: Prof. Seyed Mansouri

Deputy: Dr. Nikos Tokanas

Sustainability thinking for process design. Tools for process efficiencies, and raw material efficiencies (e.g. by means of process integration and process intensification). Ex-post and ex-ante LCA. The analysis of manufacturing footprints in process design. Advanced modelling, and digital applications for sustainability. Modelling technology and data engineering including the use of AI. Systems engineering and machine learning as a driver for sustainable supply chains and to incentive re-use and recycle.

Subsection 3 - Education, training and early-stage career development

Coordinator: Prof. Juraj Kosek

Deputy: Dr. Kseniya Papchenko

Education, training, and the need to promote sustainability to chemical engineering curricula. Discussion of new modules. Organization of workshops and seminars on sustainability assessment, methods and tools. Early-stage career development. Attract young researchers at an early stage of development and prepare them with skills required for the emerging needs on sustainability.

4 - Environmental and Social Governance

Coordinator: Dr. Stelios Bikos

Deputy: to be confirmed

Sustainability as a driver for social acceptance and techno-economic innovation. Legislation and protocols in ESG. Sustainability over greenwashing. Links to platforms to access information and data, and KPIs.

Sustainability Section