The “FatLoop” project, based at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry, will use fatty acids from discarded oils to repurpose plastic waste into functional materials. Led by Dr. Manuel Häußler, FatLoop aims to lay the groundwork for a future beyond conventional plastics, with the long-term goal of developing fully recyclable and sustainable materials that match the versatility of plastics without their environmental footprint. The project has received €2 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Nico Friese and Manuel Häußler ‘deep-frying’ plastic waste © MPIKG

Plastic waste is everywhere and poorly recycled—according to the latest UN figures, we produce 400 million tons of plastic annually worldwide, and only recycle 10%. From oil and gas extraction to refining, processing, and disposal, plastic contributes significantly to global CO₂ emissions.

The “FatLoop” research project tackles both existing plastic waste and the need for sustainable alternatives. Group leader Dr. Manuel Häußler’s innovative idea for upcycling is to deep-fry waste in oils to add extra functionalities. And using the same compounds derived from discarded oils (the “fat” in the project name), his team aims to create fully recyclable materials that could one day replace conventional plastics. “FatLoop” is based at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry, with €2 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Häußler’s group will combine fundamental chemical research with technology transfer, supporting the EU’s goal of transitioning to an economy with a net-zero greenhouse gas economy by 2050. With the clock inexorably ticking, the “FatLoop” team proposes a recipe for a circular economy—the inspiration behind the “loop” in the project’s name. “We want to rethink waste as a resource for innovative chemistry, and create future-proof materials with properties comparable to conventional plastics minus its flaws—carbon footprint, resource depletion and pollution.” Häußler explains. “We’ll manipulate chemical structures in the lab, and make this knowledge available to industrial partners for a tangible impact.”

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