Circularity for a resource-secure and competitive industry
Raw materials are becoming scarcer, more expensive and increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical risks. By closing material loops, creating new value from residual streams and making products and processes more circular, you can reduce your dependence on primary and critical raw materials. VITO helps you translate circularity into concrete solutions that take relevant legislation and regulations into account while strengthening your resource security, efficiency and competitiveness.
Make circularity a strategic lever for your company
For companies, circularity is about more than simply using fewer materials. It is also about security of supply, controlling costs, recovering valuable raw materials and reusing residual streams. At the same time, replacing fossil-based and critical raw materials requires new materials, processes and technologies.
VITO helps companies develop concrete solutions to these challenges. We map material streams and dependencies and develop technologies to recover raw materials, recycle complex materials, selectively separate substances and reuse residual streams in high-value applications. We also develop renewable alternatives to fossil-based raw materials and technologies that enable more efficient use of materials, water and energy.
From analysis and advice to technology development, testing and scale-up, we work with you to develop a solution tailored to your process, product or material stream. This turns circularity into a lever for greater resource security, reduced strategic dependence and new economic value.
Our expertise to make your materials and processes circular
From using raw materials more efficiently to recovering valuable materials from residual streams: discover how VITO helps companies use materials for longer and in higher-value applications.
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Analysis of products and processes across their entire life cycle
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Insight into material use, costs, risks and dependencies
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Evidence-based choices about materials, design, processes and investments
Want to know where the greatest material impact, costs, risks or dependencies lie in your product or process?
VITO analyses products and processes across their entire life cycle. We map material use, costs, risks and dependencies and compare potential alternatives to identify the Best Sustainable Alternative (BSA).
This gives you an objective basis for making informed decisions about materials, design, processes and investments.
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Recovery of materials including lithium and nickel
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Upgrading waste and residual streams
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Reduced dependence on primary critical raw materials
The electrification of our industry and society is increasing demand for critical raw materials such as lithium and nickel. At the same time, Europe remains heavily dependent on imports for many of these materials.
VITO develops advanced technologies to recover critical materials from waste and residual streams and make them available for reuse as raw materials.
This allows you to extract more value from existing material streams and reduce your dependence on primary critical raw materials. This contributes to greater resource security, cost control and strategic autonomy.
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Recycling of complex plastic streams
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Raw materials for high-value applications
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Reduced material loss and greater value from waste streams
Complex plastic streams often cannot be reused in high-value applications using conventional recycling technologies.
VITO develops advanced recycling processes that turn these streams back into raw materials for high-value applications. Within CYCLOPS, for example, we investigate how plastics such as PET and epoxy resins can be chemically converted into raw materials for new, recyclable materials.
This helps you limit material loss, reduce your dependence on primary plastics and extract more value from existing material streams.
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Renewable alternatives to fossil-based raw materials
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Bio-aromatics from lignin
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New bio-based materials, products and value chains
Replacing fossil-based raw materials with renewable alternatives without compromising functionality requires new materials and processes.
VITO develops materials and chemical building blocks from renewable sources such as wood. At our site in Mol, we have the first European pilot line for bio-aromatics from lignin. Here, we produce and test renewable aromatic building blocks as alternative to fossil-based raw materials for applications including plastics and resins.
This helps companies reduce their dependence on fossil-based raw materials and develop new, competitive bio-based materials, products and value chains.
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Rapid characterisation of complex waste streams
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Material identification using sensors and artificial intelligence
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More accurate automated sorting and higher-value recycling
High-value reuse and recycling require a clear picture of the composition of waste and residual streams.
Using our Characterise-to-Sort technology, we analyse complex waste streams, such as battery waste streams, quickly and non-destructively, without time-consuming or expensive chemical analyses. A colour camera, 3D laser scanner and X-rays map individual particles. Artificial intelligence is used to determine characteristics such as shape, mass and material class.
This allows us to map not only the composition but also the potential value of your entire waste stream. This helps you sort more efficiently, improve recycling processes and extract more value from your waste streams.
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Selective separation using membrane technology
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Higher purity of recovered substances
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More efficient and less energy-intensive industrial processes
The quality and purity of recovered substances help determine whether they can be reused in high-value applications.
Using advanced membrane technology, we develop solutions that precisely separate molecules from one another. This increases the purity of recovered substances and makes industrial processes more efficient and less energy-intensive.
Together with industrial partners, we develop and optimise membranes for specific applications. One example is Agfa’s Zirfon membrane for the production of green hydrogen.
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3D printing and structural optimisation
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Reduced material and energy use
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More efficient industrial processes
The choice of material is not the only factor that matters. The shape of a product also determines how much material and energy a process requires and how effectively a technology performs.
Using advanced design and manufacturing techniques, we develop structures that optimise process performance. For example, we develop 3D-printed catalysts that make chemical processes more efficient. We also optimise heat exchangers using simulations and automated design methods. This can reduce their volume by up to 30% while increasing thermal efficiency.
By intelligently combining material and shape, we reduce material and energy use and increase the efficiency of industrial processes.
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More efficient water use
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Water reuse and closing water loops
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Reduced dependence on external water supply
Water is a critical resource for many industrial processes. More efficient water use and water reuse reduce pressure on water resources and dependence on external water supply.
VITO develops solutions to use water more efficiently, purify it and maximise its reuse: the right water, in the right place, for the right application.
Within Vlaanderen WaterProof, we develop, demonstrate and scale up solutions that enhance buffering capacity, close local water loops and enable integrated water management.
In this way, we help companies reduce their dependence on water while making the water system more robust and future-proof.
Can't find your challenge here? Discuss it with our experts.
Success stories
Discover how VITO works with companies to develop concrete solutions to industrial circularity challenges: from recovering valuable materials from residual streams to using alternative raw materials, reusing water and making processes more efficient.
Characterise-to-Sort: discover valuable materials in your waste stream
Want to know which materials are present in your waste or residual stream? Characterise-to-Sort combines advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to analyse complex material streams quickly and reliably.
This gives you insight into the composition and value of your waste stream, allowing you to optimise sorting and recycling processes for more efficient recycling.
Carbstone: from steel slag and CO₂ to building materials
Can an industrial residual stream become the raw material for a new product? Carbstone uses CO₂ to convert calcium-rich steel slag powder into strong building materials such as tiles, paving stones and building blocks.
This gives an industrial residual stream a new application, while CO₂ is captured and no cement is needed as a binder. Carbstone demonstrates how material loops can be closed while creating new economic value.
Fermentation innovations: from alternative feedstock to industrial process
Want to convert CO₂, industrial off-gases or organic residual streams into valuable products? VITO helps industrial R&D teams develop, optimise and scale up fermentation processes.
We combine fermentation expertise with specialised infrastructure to test processes under industrially relevant conditions and identify technical and economic risks early in the development process.
In this way, we help convert alternative carbon sources and residual streams into chemicals, materials and other high-value products using scalable processes.
From dredged sediment to cement substitute with the Flash Calciner
Clay-rich residual streams from dredging operations, surplus soil and soil remediation can be used as raw materials for the cement industry. Using the Flash Calciner, VITO converts these residual streams into high-quality cement substitutes.
By subjecting the clay to short, intense heating, we produce calcined clay that can replace up to 30% of traditional Portland cement without compromising strength.
This gives local residual streams new value, reduces the need for primary raw materials and lowers CO₂ emissions from cement production.
3D-printed catalysts: make your chemical process more efficient
Can you get more output from your reactor while using less material and energy? By optimising the shape and structure of catalysts through 3D printing, we can improve mass and heat transfer in chemical processes.
This can lead to higher reactor output and better product quality, while reducing the amount of raw materials and catalysts required, as well as waste, energy consumption and costs.
Mobile water treatment installations: purify water streams for reuse
To reuse water, you need to know which treatment technology is best suited to your water stream and intended application. VITO’s mobile water treatment installations allow companies to test at their own site, at real scale under actual operating conditions, which treatment technology or combination of technologies is most suitable.
This enables companies to identify the most suitable treatment strategy for water reuse. This helps them optimise their processes and make better-informed decisions before full-scale implementation.
Test, develop and scale up your technology with VITO
Want to know whether a new material, process or technology works for your application? Or are you ready to move from laboratory to pilot scale?
At VITO, you gain access to specialised laboratories and pilot facilities, as well as the expertise of our researchers. Together, we develop, test and optimise materials, processes and technologies and assess how they can be scaled up for industrial application.
This enables you to validate and scale up new technology faster, without having to invest in specialised research infrastructure yourself.
Discuss your testing or scale-up challenge with our experts >
LignoValue Pilot Plant: scale up bio-aromatics
Want to replace fossil-based aromatic building blocks with renewable alternatives? VITO operates the first and only European pilot line for the production of bio-aromatics from lignin, a by-product of industries such as pulp and paper.
With the LignoValue Pilot Plant, we can scale up lignin valorisation from laboratory to pilot scale and test different process conditions. This enables us to produce bio-aromatic building blocks for market-oriented applications and product development, helping to bridge the gap to industrial application.
Membrane filtration: recover water and valuable compounds
Want to recover valuable compounds from a process or residual stream, reuse water or purify and concentrate substances more efficiently?
Using our membrane filtration pilot units, we test and optimise separation processes for a wide range of industrial streams. This allows us to investigate how you can recover water and valuable compounds, valorise side streams and purify, concentrate or fractionate process streams more efficiently.
Cement and concrete lab: develop circular building materials
Want to use recycled materials or industrial residual streams as raw material for cement or concrete?
At VITO’s cement and concrete lab, we investigate and test new raw materials, binders and compositions for cement and concrete applications. This helps companies replace primary raw materials, valorise residual streams and develop and test new circular building materials.
Collaborate with VITO
Do you have a residual stream that you want to use in higher-value applications? Are you looking for an alternative to a critical or fossil-based raw material? Or do you want to develop, test or scale up a circular technology?
Share your challenge with our experts. Together, we explore which technological solution is feasible for your material, product or process and how we can develop, test and scale it up for industrial application.
