ISMT Leads European Study Highlighting Design's Role in Recycling and Sustainability
ISMT Leads European Study Highlighting Design's Role in Recycling and Sustainability
2025-07-23
The Miguel Torga Institute (ISMT) in Coimbra led a European study that reinforces the importance of design as an effective tool in promoting recycling and achieving the environmental goals set by the European Union. The research focuses on the creative reuse of materials considered difficult to recycle, identifying innovative solutions for advancing the circular economy.
The Miguel Torga Institute (ISMT) in Coimbra led a European study that reinforces the importance of design as an effective tool in promoting recycling and achieving the environmental goals set by the European Union. The research focuses on the creative reuse of materials considered difficult to recycle, identifying innovative solutions for advancing the circular economy.
In partnership with the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania (Italy) and the School of Art and Design of Castelló (Spain), the study coordinated by ISMT explores the potential of design to give new life to complex waste, such as the laminated cardboard packaging often used in milk and juice cartons. Composed of paper, plastic, and aluminum, these packages pose a challenge to conventional recycling, both technically and economically.
The proposal developed within the project involves reusing them as printing matrices for the small-scale production of graphic materials—posters, brochures, or visual communication materials—significantly reducing their environmental impact and extending their life cycle.
"Through design, it is possible to reduce the consumption of new raw materials, avoid sending waste to landfills, and contribute to more sustainable production and consumption models," explains Maria Luísa Costa, an ISMT researcher involved in coordinating the study.
The work also highlights the crucial role of higher education institutions in integrating sustainable practices into their curricula, promoting the training of professionals prepared to consciously address sustainability challenges.
The study has received largely positive feedback, having already been featured in regional media, specialized sustainability publications, and major national press, reinforcing ISMT's commitment to innovation, the environment, and applied research.
