Itero

There's a lot of hype around AI, including in the waste and plastics world - but how might it actually improve circularity rates? As this article in Circular Online shows: the real power of AI for circularity is not chatbots, but lies in its ability to spot patterns in massive datasets and apply them in smart, tangible ways. For example, design for recyclability could soon be informed by machine learning insights from data on material performance, supply chain logistics, and customer usage patterns, and data-driven insights, and computer vision technology could make waste sorting faster and more precise. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gsTUFjSn

Circular innovation is driving ahead in the Netherlands—thanks to visionary policies, strong partnerships and bold enterpreneurs, says Ivonne Bojoh, CEO of think tank Circle Economy. "The Netherlands has been a pioneer in embracing circularity", she says, with strong national and local leadership and a robust policy framework which has fostered circular innovation and entrepreneurship. This shift towards a circular economy isn’t just about the environment—it’s also a smart economic decision. "Circular strategies drive efficiency, reduce costs, and open new revenue streams". In a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, it's also a powerful risk mitigation tool, she says, as raw material shortages, supply disruptions, and geopolitical risks can all be mitigated by doing more with less. We're excited to be a part of this bold transformation as we work towards the construction of our demonstration plant at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e__jZaKg

💭 Could this new pilot scheme reverse declining household recycling rates? In Brentwood, an Essex Borough where recycling rates have fallen from 49% to 37% since 2015, the local council has launched a pilot scheme to boost household recycling rates by collecting black bins once a fortnight instead of weekly. Previously, the council collected black bins (non-recyclable waste) weekly but blue (plastic bottles) and white bins (paper and cardboard) fortnightly. The scheme makes it as easy for residents to dispose of recyclable waste as non-recyclable waste, encouraging better sorting of household waste. 💡 Technology alone is not enough to solve the plastics waste crisis: we need also broader changes to how we use and dispose of plastic. The smallest changes to waste collection, for example, could cause dramatic systemic shifts in how people use and dispose of waste and end plastic Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gMYg7Raz

Welcoming our new Head of Operations! It is a pleasure to welcome Marc Eggen as Head of Operations at Itero. Marc is responsible for the operations at our Brightlands plant, with extensive experience in circular innovation and setting up and operating new plants. Marc has a background in chemical engineering and started his career in various technologist and technical management roles, always with a strong operational component. We feel lucky to have him as a member of Itero. Pictured is Marc (right) on a break from HAZOP meetings, with Itero team members Sieto Schenkel (left), Project Manager, and David Nessbach (middle), Project Engineer.

The City of London Corporation has just announced that it plans on becoming fully circular by 2040, in addition to its existing commitment to reach net zero by the same year. In setting this ambitious target, the Square Mile is establishing itself as a global leader in urban circularity. There's a long way to go - but the corporation has already established clear steps and targets for the near future. By 2027, it plans to raise recycling rates to 40% and reuse rates to 10%, while encouraging retrofitting and refurbishing existing developments instead of building new ones. "The transition to a circular economy requires a large systematic shift both in processes and ways of working", it writes in their new report, but "there is huge opportunity to be gained from making the transition, both environmentally and economically." Read more about the decision here: https://lnkd.in/egw5PJrr

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨🔁... Last week, I had the exciting experience of visiting 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀’ 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁, which is doing revolutionary work to tackle sustainability—most notably, the recycling of plastics. I learned that globally, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟵% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱!😢 At Itero, 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 were highlighted to me: 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🔁 • Due to the unpredictable nature of plastic waste 🗑, the outstanding engineers at Itero have implemented an 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 to the problem, where failures are not walls but 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀. • This demonstrates the 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴; things will not always go right, but being able to 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻💡 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🔀 • Engineering problems are multifaceted, especially those contributing to a 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 ♻. They require 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰, 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 of the intricate solutions being devised! 👨🔬 • Even if the perfect process is discovered, if communities are not separating waste, its effect will be negated. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦🏭𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗦📜 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲! 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 (just like your first LinkedIn post! 😉) & 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 were key lessons I learned during my time at Itero ✅. A huge thank you to James Helliwell and ALEXIS DELICH - CHEMICAL ENGINEER of Itero for their incredible insight and wisdom, and to Itero and UCL Chemical Engineering Ramsay Society for this amazing opportunity! 🙌 #Engineering #Innovation #Sustainability #Learning #EngineeringLeadership #ChemicalEngineering #TechnologyForGood

"Ideally, academia could work with commercial operators to use industrial pilot plants to validate research or to guide what questions are asked – bringing in a diverse understanding of the problems faced when improving processes, to find the best paths forward together." - Geoff Smith, CTO https://lnkd.in/edSsX-EB

This week, we had the first of two visits from students at the UCL Chemical Engineering Ramsay Society, who had a chance to visit our West London Pilot Plant and see our technology in action. James Helliwell, Principal Design Engineer, hosted the students and toured the facilities alongside Geoff Smith, CTO, fielding questions and showing not only our chemical recycling process, but talking through our methodologies and approaches to engineering. Special thanks to Emilie Jugand for organising the visits from UCL, and the whole team at our plant for hosting. Read more about our internship opportunities here: https://lnkd.in/eFTcpscS

What do we do at Itero? Why is it important? See more! --> https://lnkd.in/eccEWj8X

Working together with peers - rather than seeing them solely as competitors - will be key to finding sustainable solutions for circular plastics. "Success requires collaboration among competitors – getting them to sit at the same table isn’t always easy and shouldn’t be seen as collusion. This can only be done through clear legislation." https://lnkd.in/ezFcxnVs