VERBUND.NRW

Raising the resource efficiency along the value chain of composite materials in constructions

Duration: 2016 - 2024

Funding: State North Rhine-Westphalia

Project:

In the construction sector, large markets for composite materials and -constructions have emerged in the past few years (e.g. thermal insulation composite systems, textile concrete, carbon and glass-fiber reinforced components, intelligent wall systems). A further growth of the markets is forecasted. The diverse applications of these developments and size of the construction sector result in a high resource relevance. Besides the large consumption of resources and energy, a high amount of waste is generated inside value chains due to demolition and removal processes.

In cooperation, eleven chairs of RWTH Aachen University and FH Münster carry on research within the topic of “Raising the resource efficiency along the value chain of composite materials in constructions” by forming VERBUND.NRW. The goal is to make use of current optimization potential and to ensure an efficient usage of resources sustainably. The entire value chain from production and utilization to recovery is included in the research. The Chair of Operations Management researches on Closed-Loop Supply Chains of composite materials considering economical, ecological and social objectives as well as future technological developments.

The coordination of VERBUND.NRW is taken over by the Unit of Technology of Fuels (TEER) at RWTH Aachen University.