Green Transition and Digital Transformation - Danish Technological Institute (DTI)

Elastane, which gives sportswear and tights their stretchability, poses a significant challenge in the circular economy. We are developing a new technology that could potentially increase the recyclability of the material 👕♻️ – Mixed textiles, such as nylon blended with elastane, complicate the recycling process of textile waste. Yet, elastane remains essential in clothing such as sportswear and tights. Therefore, it is crucial to develop recycling technologies capable of addressing this issue. One approach is to remove the elastane, thus paving the way for more effective fibre-to-fibre recycling. This is exactly what we are focusing on, explains Julie Trads from Teknologisk Institut. In addition to removing obstacles to a circular textile industry, the SynthiCycle project explores how to harness the material's value in future products, preventing it from ending up as waste. In the project, we bring together partners Ragn-Sells AS, Boer Group, and Sports Group Denmark A/S. SynthiCycle is supported by MUDP under Miljø- og Ligestillingsministeriet. #recycling #textiles #elastane #circulareconomy  

AI advancements in the food industry 🤝 Quality control, product development, inventory management, and food safety. The opportunities are abundant when AI opens up data-driven optimisation possibilities in the food industry. We are currently assisting food companies digitise production processes to minimise waste and reduce production downtime 🦾 We focus on developing a new application that analyses and collects data on raw materials and integrates it with production line information. This integration allows operators to respond more quickly when a process or raw material deviates from the norm. – We use mathematical models and vision technology to identify defective wheat tortillas, such as those with holes or cracks. By adjusting the recipes accordingly, we can significantly reduce food waste, says Dennis Brandborg Nielsen from Danish Technological Institute. 📈 We collect data from temperature sensors in the dough hooks, monitoring energy consumption during mixing, and tracking weight information throughout production. The mathematical model examines the relationship between vision data and variations in flour, leading to more precise adjustments. – Today, the food industry collects massive amounts of process data for quality assessment and food safety monitoring. However, this data is rarely exploited to predict and reduce future production waste. Many food companies are unaware of the digitalisation opportunities available to make food production both greener and more profitable, says Inger Olesen, project manager at Danish Technological Institute. 🤖 Interested in how AI and digitalisation can revolutionise the food industry? Join us at the conference "AI and Digitalisation in the Food Industry: New Paths and Opportunities”. The conference is in Danish and takes place on November 6th at Teknologisk Institut in Taastrup. See the full program and register here: https://lnkd.in/dHnNwy6x

Every third groundwater well contains pesticides. To ensure clean drinking water, we are working on a new technology that utilises activated carbon, among other things, to combat pollution 🚰 – In collaboration with our partners, we are developing a new purification method that effectively removes pesticides without creating unknown byproducts or unnecessary water waste, says Sanin Musovic, product manager at Teknologisk Institut. The new technology combines powdered activated carbon (PAC) with energy-efficient membrane technology to remove pesticides and enhance water purification. We are currently testing this approach at selected waterworks across the country. The project is supported by MUDP under the Miljø- og Ligestillingsministeriet. #cleandrinkingwater #water #pesticides #circulareconomy

When art meets technology 🚇🖼 Concrete artwork are now a prominent feature at the newly opened Enghave Brygge metro station. Danish Technological Institute has played a central role throughout the process, from prototype development to testing, quality assurance, and the final production. The artist Pernille With Madsen is the creative force behind the decoration station. Her work, consisting of concrete reliefs with integrated fibre optic cables, has been realised with the support of Danish Technological Institute. – We are often involved in pioneering tasks where solutions have yet to be found. We help develop methods and discover technical solutions, but it is quite unusual for us to become the actual producer, says Thomas Juul Andersen, team manager at Teknologisk Institut. - We are happy to contribute with our technical expertise to bring artistic visions to life, he adds. This marks the first time in metro construction history that art has been seamlessly integrated into the architecture from the very beginning, as seen in the five newest metro stations in Sydhavn and Valby.

In love with microalgae 💚 It’s clear why our innovation director Anne Maria Hansen is enthusiastic about the green microorganisms – they have the potential to become one of the most important protein sources of the future. Following a successful harvest, Anne Maria shares insights on the CO2-consuming algae that produce protein for both humans and animals. – You can produce about 20 times more protein per hectare compared to soy and of at least equally high quality. The tubes with microalgae do not need to be placed on agricultural land. They can also be placed on rooftops or on land unsuitable for cultivation, explains Anne Maria. 🌱 In Central Jutland, Danish-produced microalgae are cultivated in 90-meter-long tubes lighting up the landscape neon green at Axel Månsson, one of the country's leading organic egg and vegetable producers. As the microalgae feed on CO2, they are nourished with the farmer's waste – chicken manure and vegetable scraps processed in a biogas plant. 🌿 By incorporating microalgae, Danish agriculture can significantly reduce transport-related CO2 emissions from imported soy and decrease reliance on global supply chains. It also supports local production, boosts economic growth and makes efficient use of local resources. Axel Månsson is now awaiting further support and permission to feed his chickens with the algae developed and cultivated in the research project ProLocAL. #microalgae #protein #dkgreen #dkfood

Plastic waste is transformed into cosmetic packaging 🧴♻ A breakthrough now allows plastic waste to be upgraded in quality, enabling it to be recycled into new high-value products. – The plastic waste is shredded into flakes, washed, spun and undergoes thermal treatments. This process effectively removes impurities that have previously hindered its use in cosmetic packaging, says Per Sigaard Christensen from Teknologisk Institut. In the past, it has been challenging to process household-collected plastic waste to a quality level suitable for use in high-value products such as cosmetic packaging. Through a collaboration across the value chain, we have achieved the goal with the new process. The first products are already on the shelves. Feel free to reach out to Per if you are interested in learning more about how your company can participate in future green value chains for plastic recycling. Thanks to our partners Aage Vestergaard Larsen A/S, Nopa Nordic Group, and Robinson Packaging. The project was supported by MUDP under Miljø- og Ligestillingsministeriet. #dkgreen #circulareconomy #recycling

Protecting fawns with technology during harvest season 🌾🦌 When farmers harvest, young animals often hide in the grain. In fact, up to 20,000 fawns are either injured or killed during harvest each year. Two new solutions help farmers look after the young animals. 🚁 Drone technology: The night before a harvest, drones spray the repellent TRICO in the field. The scent of the repellent encourages mothers to move the fawn to safer areas, allowing farmers to harvest the next day without endangering the fawns. 🚜 Tractor sensors: In the SAVA project, we equip tractors with advanced ensors and perception technology. This enables farmers to detect and avoid obstacles, including young animals, ensuring a safer harvesting process. SAVA is a collaboration between AGCO Corporation, AgriRobot, Conpleks, DTU - Technical University of Denmark, Maybe Robotics, and Teknologisk Institut. The project is supported by Innovationsfonden.

The car industry uses a lot of plastic, but only 19% of the plastic from scrapped cars is recycled 🚗 With a goal of 75% recycling, we have just launched the ambitious partnership RACE. – With over 200 kilos of plastic in each car, we are dealing with a considerable amount of resources. We aim to reuse and recycle up to 75% of this plastic. As the materials are complex, we need a variety of solutions and expertise to address this challenge, says Søren Haack, project manager at Teknologisk Institut. That is why we have assembled a broad and ambitious group of partners, ready to unlock the substantial environmental and business potential, while future-proofing the industry. ♻ RACE focuses on improving the sorting, decomposition, and recycling of mixed car plastics. The goal is to create a new infrastructure that makes it profitable to reuse and recycle plastic materials instead of incinerating them. 💡 This approach provides significant CO2 reductions and helps the car industry meet upcoming EU regulations, which impose stricter requirements on the amount of recycled plastic in newly produced cars. RACE (Recycling of Automotive plastic in a Circular Economy, 2024-2027) is supported by MUDP under Miljøministeriet and is a collaboration between CircleX (pyrolysis), Evonik (additives), HAMMERSHØJ AUTOOPHUG APS, Ørbæk Autogenbrug ApS, Semler Gruppen A/S (car workshops), Tryg Forsikring, Volvo Cars, Adient (car seat manufacturer), RC PLAST (plastic manufacturer), Stena Recycling A/S (recycling) and Teknologisk Institut (knowledge partner and project manager).   #cars #plastic #recycling #dkgreen

We set sail towards the maritime sector of the future ⛴️ To achieve the UN's goal of climate-neutral shipping by 2050, we map the potential of new technologies that can reduce harmful emissions from shipping. - We investigate the impact of energy-saving measures, modern biofuels and emission-reducing initiatives in real-time during voyages. By directly monitoring emissions and fuel consumption, we can provide valuable insights to the maritime industry and support future investments in cleaner technology, says Julie Tølbøl Rasmussen from Teknologisk Institut. In the CLEANSHIP project, Uni-Tankers A/S' ships are equipped with advanced measurement technologies. Danish Technological Institute contributes with expertise in sensor technology, data collection, and advanced fuels. The strong partnership includes Uni-Tankers A/S, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Danske Rederier, Danske Maritime (Danish Maritime), and Green Instruments . The MUDP under the Miljøstyrelsen supports the project with 18.2 million DKK. 📸 Uni-Tankers A/S

Bacteria are to increase recycling of nylon waste from fishing nets and textiles 🧦♻️ These microorganisms produce enzymes with the potential to significantly enhance nylon recycling. – In the first phase of the ENCORE project, we will identify bacteria in nature capable of breaking down nylon for recycling. Bacteria produce a wide range of enzymes that can decompose synthetic molecules such as nylon, making them ideal candidates for this task, says Alexander Sandahl, project leader at Teknologisk Institut. 💡 Currently, only methods from a few specific sources exist to recycle nylon. By leveraging nature's own tools, we could potentially transform millions of tonnes of plastic and textile waste from nylon into new products. ENCORE is funded with 6 million DKK by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and is led by Professor Daniel Otzen, Aarhus Universitet. Partners include DTU - Technical University of Denmark and Universidade do Porto. Would you like to know more about how we work with nylon recycling? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d6f4WpTi #recycling #dkgreen #innovation