How Can Hybrid Materials Enable a Circular Economy?

Climate change, critical material shortages and environmental degradation pose an existential threat to the entire world. Immediate action is needed to transform the global economy towards a more circular economy with less intensive use of fossil energy and limited resources and more use of recyclable materials. Recyclable materials and manufacturing techniques will play a critical role in this transformation. Substantial advancements will be needed to achieve a more intelligent materials design to enhance both functionality and enhanced sustainability. The development of hybrid materials combining functionality at macro and nano scales based on organic and inorganic compounds, that are entirely recyclable could be used for tremendous applications. In this mini-review, we provide the reader with recent innovations on hybrid materials for application in water, energy and raw materials sectors. The topic is very modern and after its deep study we propose a creation an international research centre, that would combine the development of hybrid materials with green manufacturing. We have highlighted a framework that would comprise critical themes of the initial research needed. Such a centre would promote sustainable production of materials through intelligent hybridisation and eco-efficient, digital manufacturing and enable a circular economy in the long term. Such activities are strongly supported by current environmental and economical initiatives, like the Green Deal, REPower EU and digital EU initiatives.