News
15 May 2025
Diederik Samsom trapt Future Rethinkers Congres 2025 af
On June 12, 2025, MNEXT will open the doors of OpenX in Breda for the annual Future Rethinkers Congress, dedicated entirely to the theme of “Transition in Action.” This event brings together professionals, students, researchers, and companies to demonstrate that the materials and energy transition is already well underway and, more importantly, that it can be done.
13 May 2025
Natural origins, sustainable end?
Something seemingly simple is happening at Living Greenlab in Den Bosch — yet it could hold big implications for sustainable construction. Paula Jerez Zarandona and Fran Ortega Exposito, researchers working on the MycEoLA project, have buried samples of mycelium biocomposites in soil — these sustainable building materials are visible to passersby through a glass panel. Their goal? To answer a surprisingly underexplored questions: is mycelium really biodegradable in natural soil conditions, and what impact does it have on soil health?
24 April 2025
Project WheyNot explores high-value applications for whey waste
In een innovatieve stap richting circulaire zuivelproductie onderzoekt het project "WheyNot" hoe wei-permeaat, een restproduct van melkverwerking, kan worden opgewaardeerd tot waardevolle grondstof voor de chemische industrie.
17 April 2025
Sustainable concrete from clay and mycelium
Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in construction. In a project financed by ChemistryNL, MNEXT and ABT Consulting Engineers are working on a new type of concrete based on clay and mycelium. The advantage? This type of concrete is completely nature-based and circular and thus contributes to a sustainable society.
16 April 2025
Green coatings that protect – and then disappear
How can coatings retain their protective function while also naturally breaking down? The GreenCoat project tackles this challenge by collaborating with MNEXT, Stahl International B.V., and PUROC to improve the biodegradability of widely used coatings, such as polyurethane and epoxy. Through knowledge development and applied research, this project contributes to a more sustainable coatings industry.
2 April 2025
From cashew nut shells to sustainable coatings
Research, education, and innovation converge in the development of sustainable and circular materials from waste streams, such as cashew nut shells, for eco-friendly coatings and plastics.
31 March 2025
PODCAST: Biobased Materials as a Solution for a Sustainable Future
Biobased materials can play a significant role in the transition to a circular and climate-neutral society. But why is this transition progressing so slowly? And what is needed to accelerate it? In this podcast by Living Ecosystem, our experts—Maaike Lycklama à Nijeholt (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences), Thijs Rodenburg (Rodenburg Biopolymers), and Han van Kasteren (MNEXT/Avans University of Applied Sciences)—discussed these questions, guided by our host Myrna van de Water (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences). The conclusion: collaboration between education, research, and industry is essential to scale up biobased materials.
26 March 2025
Dutch and Finnish students compete against and with each other during the Biobased Battle 2025
Last week, the third edition of the Biobased Battle took place, a four-day competition in which Dutch and Finnish students collaborated to present the best practical biobased solutions for real-world challenges. For the first time, non-technical students also participated, bringing new perspectives on sustainable business models, communication, and technology integration within circular applications.
19 March 2025