On February 14th 2016 the Vice-President of the European Commission paid a visit to TU Delft - Green Village. Mr. Timmermans has been known in recent times in the field of sustainability for the co-chairing of the EU Circular Economy package released on December 2015.
The meeting took place on The Green Village Prêt-à-Loger, which has been serving as a green field for the implementation of new sustainable technologies since 2014. The conversation focused on the forefront of innovative technologies and solutions that TU Delft has to offer for the tackling of Climate Change and the implementation of the Circular Economy.
After the round table and walking through the Pret-a-Loger, researchers were invited to present their work and their vision for the future.
Marija Nedeljković who is a researcher at the geopolymer group at the faculty of Civil Engineering, presented a new geopolymer as a better alternative to cement for concrete. This material is the result of the mixture of industrial by-products such as ashes from steel manufacturing. A solution that promises a substantial reduction of CO2 emissions during production and the extraction of natural resources.
Ate Snijder, researcher at the glass and transparency research group at the faculty of Architecture displayed the concept for a modular bridge from glass bricks without the aid of adhesives. An ideal solution for the circular economy as these elements can be replaced and reprocessed.
It was a great and productive visit that was concluded with a present for Mr. Timmermans from the LDE Centre for Sustainability. The board game of the circular economy “In the Loop” a resource strategy board game created by TU Delft alumna, Katherine Whalen, to help generate awareness of critical raw materials.
