While the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a well-known institution in Luxembourg, its reputation does not necessarily lead the public to believe that cutting-edge, highly concrete activities are being developed there. Our members who visited the Sustainable Composite Materials & Manufacturing Innovation Center on February 25 were highly impressed by the research center in Hautcharage and the prospects it offers for sustainable materials and production methods.
The visit was part of the scientific communication session “Sustainable Materials for the Future”, jointly organized by LIST and our association, under the aegis of the Science section of the Institut Grand-Ducal, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Advancing and spreading knowledge in the natural, physical, and mathematical sciences in Luxembourg is the institute’s core mission. It is chaired by Lucien Hoffmann, who is also the Scientific Director of LIST. Professor Hoffmann has announced that this will be a busy year filled with events and conferences.
Anne-Marie Solvi, board member of the Association des Ingénieurs et Scientifiques du Luxembourg, reiterated our strong interest in scientific research and highlighted that the development of sustainable materials is a key objective for Luxembourg and its industry.
Three presentations allowed the audience to delve into the reality of these new environmentally- friendly materials, which are expected to form the foundation of increasingly widespread industrial production.
With Enrico Benetto (LIST – Head of RDI Unit), the audience explored the standards and assessment of these new materials. He detailed the “Safe and Sustainable by Design” (SSbD) framework, which focuses on the development of materials, products, and processes that are inherently safe for human health and the environment while promoting sustainability throughout their life cycle. To achieve this, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches are used to evaluate the environmental impact of materials from raw material extraction to production, use, and end-of-life, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals such as reducing carbon footprint and resource depletion.
Pierre Verge (LIST – Lead Scientist) is working on materials that could replace plastics, which are so versatile and useful, yet responsible for widespread environmental pollution. As a polymer chemist, he focuses on lignin, a natural component of wood, to aid in this transition. Moving away from petroleum-based materials and relying on biologically sourced, highly recyclable raw materials is one of the keys to developing the “plastics” of tomorrow. His research particularly focuses on the chemical modification of molecules derived from renewable resources by integrating specific reversible chemical processes to enhance their recyclability.
Marcel Wirtz (Goodyear – Manager R&D Grant and Partnership), chemist and project manager, explained how the major tire manufacturer based in Colmar-Berg has embraced sustainable development. Today, in Luxembourg, the company produces tires made from 55% sustainable materials. The formula for 90% sustainable tires is already mastered, but the most challenging step remains: the final 10%, expected by 2030. Key factors in this spectacular evolution include replacing mineral oil-based materials and making advancements in tire longevity, retreading, and recycling.
This case study illustrated the crucial link between research and the discovery of new materials, large-scale manufacturing processes, and the profitability required for their implementation. The collaboration between Goodyear and LIST is an excellent example of the benefits that LIST’s 800 employees can bring to both national and international industry.
The evening concluded a networking cocktail that was as convivial as it was informative.
