In Science Podcast: Francesco Picchioni on recycling rubber and plastics

30 March 2026

In this episode of the In Science Podcast, we welcome our guest Francesco Picchioni, Professor of Chemical Product Engineering. Hosts Wim and Hanna interview him on his research on new technologies for recycling rubber and plastics. They also discuss the process of translating his lab research into real-world applications through a startup that uses Picchioni's technology to recycle tire rubber into new products, making a real impact on society.

Picchioni found a way to bind the shorter polymers together in a way that allows for the production of new rubber of normal quality. This technology makes it possible to reuse the rubber from car tyres in the production of various products. Thanks to this research, these tyres are no longer labelled as waste, but can be considered raw materials for other products. The New Born Rubber company uses this patented method to make new rubber for products such as flip-flops and foldable bicycle baskets. For his project ‘Rubber Recycling’, Picchioni won the Ben Feringa Impact Award 2025.

'In Science' is the podcast of the University of Groningen where you will hear interviews with researchers, news and reports from the Groningen academic world. The podcast is for anyone interested in science.