Promoter CE Center
Being a specialist in sustainability of materials, I am studying and advancing the value of materials for society and economy, in order to cherish that value to “secure Earth’s bounty and beauty for present and future generations” and to build a connected and sustainable future for everyone.
Prof. Karel Van Acker is professor in sustainable materials management, coordinator of the Circular Economy @KU Leuven platform and coordinator of the KU Leuven Materials Research Centre. He also leads the policy research centre “Circular economy” for the Flemish government and is the former president and founder of the Flemish Transition Network on Sustainable Materials Management. His research is on developing strategies to realize the circular economy and on sustainability assessments of material life cycles, including amongst others biobased and composite materials, recycling of rare earths and other critical materials, landfill mining and the valorization of residues. The connection between materials and a sustainable society is the leitmotiv in Karel’s activities.