3. Ecodesign approaches in Process Engineering for a circular economy

Supply chains in the materials and energy processing industries have become increasingly complex and globalized. This is the case for certain essential products, such as those used in the production of pharmaceuticals.

The COVID-19 pandemic added to this awareness with the urgent need to protect human health on a global scale. More generally, the chemical sector is at the heart of almost all Green Deal value chains and solutions, from the manufacture of solar panels, batteries and wind turbines, to building insulation and the synthesis of energy carriers such as hydrogen. The challenges for Process Engineering lie in the design and management of resilient value chains with diversified and sustainable sources of supply for chemical products, as part of an eco-design approach to achieve a circular economy and move towards carbon neutrality.