Prospective modeling for plastic waste management: reducing environmental impacts through circular economy
Master project - available - Spring 2025
Context
This project is part of the waste platform initiative from the canton of Valais, where industries, municipalities, and cantonal services work together to enhance waste management across the region.
Alongside cement, steel, and ammonia, plastic is a fundamental pillar of the modern economy. Current global production stands at approximately 380 million tons (Geyer et al., 2017), and by 2050, humanity is projected to have generated 30,000 million tons. With such rapid growth, the production, use, and disposal of plastic are becoming increasingly urgent issues. Additionally, the production of polymers accounts for 6% of global oil consumption, with half used as raw material and the other half as energy input (Kosior and Mitchell, 2020).
Tasks
The project aims to compare various end-of-life technologies for plastics, including thermochemical conversion to fuels and chemicals (using processes like gasification, pyrolysis, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis), business-as-usual methods (such as incineration), and material recycling, both mechanical and chemical. These models will be developed using Osmose, taking into account the environmental impact and costs associated with each technology and flow.
A comprehensive superstructure of these models will be constructed, leveraging data from the laboratory database. Multi-objective optimization, focusing on cost and environmental impact, will be performed on the superstructure to evaluate different disposal routes under external constraints, such as societal needs and consumption patterns. Finally, sensitivity analyses will be conducted, along with the development of prospective scenarios (e.g., sufficiency, business-as-usual, and increasing consumption trends).
Location and requirements
Basic knowledge of programming and LCA methodology. Knowing the softwares Osmose or Aspen are a plus. This position allows for remote work or commuting to Sion. Access to necessary software for the project will be provided.
Contact
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting a CV, cover letter, and academic transcripts to Soline Corre: soline.corre@epfl.ch