Dr. Elke Metzsch-Zilligen
Director Division Plastics | Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Dr. Metzsch-Zilligen studied chemistry at the University of Cologne and received her PhD in physical chemistry in 2006. After working in the food industry for several years, she joined the German Plastics Institute (DKI) in 2011, which was integrated into Fraunhofer LBF in 2012. There she headed the “Additivation and Durability” department until April 1, 2024, when she subsequently took over as director of the plastics division at Fraunhofer LBF.
Her research focuses on the synthesis of new additives and the selection and evaluation of optimized additives/additive systems for thermoplastics depending on the application. She has also been working on the sustainability of plastics for many years. This includes significantly improving the quality of recyclates through adapted post-stabilization to improve the mechanical, sensory and optical properties in order to increase the amount of recyclates used or to enable the substitution of virgin material by recyclates in the first place.
Dr. Christian Beinert
Head of Department Polymer Processing and Component Design Ι Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Christian Beinert studied mechanical engineering at the University of Darmstadt and received his PhD in 2007 in the field of numerical flow simulation. At the German Plastics Institute (Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut, DKI), he initially headed the research group "Compounding" and, prior to the integration into Fraunhofer LBF in 2012, the department "Thermoplastics Processing". At Fraunhofer LBF, Mr. Beinert currently heads the department "Plastics Processing and Component Design".
The department is part of the division "Plastics" at the Fraunhofer LBF and develops solutions for the resource-conserving use of plastics in technically demanding applications. It covers the entire spectrum from the determination of material properties to the simulation and development of processing methods. With a focus on the design of structural components, the department develops methods and models that can optimally and user-specifically represent material-, process- and/or application-specific influencing variables under complex load situations.
Dr. Christine Bunte
Managing Director | PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V.
Christine Bunte is Managing Director of PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V. since January 1, 2025. Previously, she led the Corporate Advocacy Team at BASF in Ludwigshafen and represented the company on issues related to circular economy and environmental policy. The polymer chemist has gathered extensive experience in the fields of plastics, circular economy, and public affairs at both national and European levels. In her new role as Managing Director of Plastics Europe Deutschland, she aims to further advance the transformation of the plastics industry towards a climate-neutral circular economy.
Ton Emans
President of PRE and Group Recycling and Procurement Director at Cedo as well as board member of Cedo | Plastics Recyclers Europe
Ton Emans has more than 34 years’ experience in the plastic recycling process. He is Group Recycling and Procurement Director as well as board member of Cedo.
Ton Emans started his career with DSM in Geleen, The Netherlands and worked as researcher in the field of environment and safety. In 1991, he relocated to a subsidiary of DSM called REKO, a company which started to recycle plastics in 1979. As an Quality, Environment, Safety and Health Manager he became familiar with plastic recycling. After the merger with Wavin Re-use into Arena Recycling he was named Purchasing Manager.
After the bankruptcy of Arena Recycling in 2000 Ton searched for a new owner for the site in Geleen and found CeDo willing to buy her own recycling plant. He was named Managing Director.
In 2004, Ton Emans extended his responsibilities and moved to Mönchengladbach, Germany where he was named Supply Chain Managing Director of CeDo Group.
Ton Emans holds a Master of Science in occupational health and safety from the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands and has completed several business programs.
In 2011, Ton Emans has been named President of PRE, a non-profit organization whose members are European plastic recyclers. PRE represents National Associations and Individual companies covering 80% of the European market. PRE focuses on the promotion of plastic recycling and the creation of conditions which enable profitable and sustainable business.
Dipl.-Ing. Arthur Schwesig
Founder | OVERTYPER Arthur Schwesig e.U.
Arthur Schwesig, born on March 20, 1967, in Linz, is a leading research manager in the field of plastics recycling. While still a student at Graz University of Technology, he worked on UV-crosslinkable polystyrenes, later took over application technology at OMV Agrolinz Melamin in Castellanza, and joined Mike Biddle MBA Polymers in 2008, where he drove the company's development in Austria and China in various management positions. In 2020, he took over as Head of Research and Quality for Bage Plastics in Germany and Austria.
At the end of 2024, he started his own business and founded OVERTYPER, a consulting company dedicated to helping medium-sized European companies transition from a linear economy to a circular economy.
He works with companies that develop and produce their products using virgin plastics, paving the way for them to use mechanically recycled plastics from post-consumer sources.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Grefenstein
Scientific Director Circular Economy | Institut für Kunststoffverarbeitung (IKV) in Industrie und Handwerk an der RWTH Aachen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Grefenstein, born in 1965, studied mechanical engineering at the technical university of Aachen/Germany where he finished his PhD in the area of plastics processing. Until today, he teaches the subject “Plastics Compounding and Recycling” at the RWTH Aachen. Between 1996 and 2004 he worked at BASF SE in Ludwigshafen/Germany in the departments of technical thermoplastics and styrenics mainly for the automotive industry. From February 2004 to June 2013 he has been working as Director Corporate R&D for RKW SE in Frankenthal/Germany. Since July 2013 he is Senior Vice President Group R&D at Constantia Flexibles GmbH, Vienna/Austria. For the German Plastics Packaging Association (IK) he was from 2016 to 2019 chair of the working group “Bioplastics”.
At EuPC he was Chair of the Packaging Division from March 2020 to July 2024 and at Recyclass/PRE he is member of the Advisory Board and the Technical Committee Polyolefin Films since July 2019. In addition to his assignment at Constantia Flexibles, he is working at the Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV) as Scientific Director Circular Economy in order to further strengthen the recycling research in alignment with the actual industrial challenges.
Dr. Marcus Leistner
Technical Development Manager Sustainability | KRAHN Chemie Deutschland GmbH
Dr. Marcus Leistner studied polymer chemistry at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and received his doctorate in 2013 at TU Darmstadt while working as a research associate at Fraunhofer LBF. He then spent two years as a research associate at Texas A&M University, where his research focused on the development of functional and durable coatings for textiles and foams.
Following this academic career, he moved into industry, initially working as product development specialist for thermoplastic compounds and project manager at Mocom Compounds in Hamburg. There, he developed innovative and sustainable solutions for plastics in various application areas.
Since 2022, Dr. Leistner has been Technical Development Manager at KRAHN Chemie, where he focuses on sustainability projects and recycling. In this role, he develops customized recycling solutions for customers to promote the circular economy and minimize the environmental impact of various types of waste.
Dr. Matthias Wilhelm
Vice President Plastics Recycling Ι Lober GmbH & Co. Abfallentsorgungs KG
Matthias Wilhelm studied mechanical engineering at the TU Ilmenau. During his time at the German Plastics Center in Würzburg, he finished his Ph.D. in collaboration with the University of Paderborn.
From 2018-2022 he was main responsible for the international sales and business department at Gerresheimer Regensburg GmbH for Pharma and Medical Devices.
Since 2022 Matthias Wilhelm is heading the business unit Recycling at Lober GmbH as Vice President Plastics Recycling and R&D.
Dr. Christian Beinert
Head of Department Polymer Processing and Component Design Ι Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Christian Beinert studied mechanical engineering at the University of Darmstadt and received his PhD in 2007 in the field of numerical flow simulation. At the German Plastics Institute (Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut, DKI), he initially headed the research group "Compounding" and, prior to the integration into Fraunhofer LBF in 2012, the department "Thermoplastics Processing". At Fraunhofer LBF, Mr. Beinert currently heads the department "Plastics Processing and Component Design".
The department is part of the division "Plastics" at the Fraunhofer LBF and develops solutions for the resource-conserving use of plastics in technically demanding applications. It covers the entire spectrum from the determination of material properties to the simulation and development of processing methods. With a focus on the design of structural components, the department develops methods and models that can optimally and user-specifically represent material-, process- and/or application-specific influencing variables under complex load situations.
Participants Panel Discussion:
Dr. Christine Bunte
Managing Director
PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V.
Dipl.-Ing. Arthur Schwesig
Founder
OVERTYPER Arthur Schwesig e.U.
Ton Emans
President of PRE and Group Recycling and Procurement Director at Cedo as well as board member of Cedo
Plastics Recyclers Europe
Dr. Christian Beinert
Head of Department Polymer Processing and Component Design
Fraunhofer LBF
Dr. Elke Metzsch-Zilligen
Director Division Plastics | Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Dr. Metzsch-Zilligen studied chemistry at the University of Cologne and received her PhD in physical chemistry in 2006. After working in the food industry for several years, she joined the German Plastics Institute (DKI) in 2011, which was integrated into Fraunhofer LBF in 2012. There she headed the “Additivation and Durability” department until April 1, 2024, when she subsequently took over as director of the plastics division at Fraunhofer LBF.
Her research focuses on the synthesis of new additives and the selection and evaluation of optimized additives/additive systems for thermoplastics depending on the application. She has also been working on the sustainability of plastics for many years. This includes significantly improving the quality of recyclates through adapted post-stabilization to improve the mechanical, sensory and optical properties in order to increase the amount of recyclates used or to enable the substitution of virgin material by recyclates in the first place.
Dr. Christian Beinert
Head of Department Polymer Processing and Component Design Ι Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Christian Beinert studied mechanical engineering at the University of Darmstadt and received his PhD in 2007 in the field of numerical flow simulation. At the German Plastics Institute (Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut, DKI), he initially headed the research group "Compounding" and, prior to the integration into Fraunhofer LBF in 2012, the department "Thermoplastics Processing". At Fraunhofer LBF, Mr. Beinert currently heads the department "Plastics Processing and Component Design".
The department is part of the division "Plastics" at the Fraunhofer LBF and develops solutions for the resource-conserving use of plastics in technically demanding applications. It covers the entire spectrum from the determination of material properties to the simulation and development of processing methods. With a focus on the design of structural components, the department develops methods and models that can optimally and user-specifically represent material-, process- and/or application-specific influencing variables under complex load situations.
Natalie Rudolph
Division Manager Polymer | NETZSCH Analyzing & Testing
Natalie Rudolph earned her doctorate at the Chair of Plastics Technology at the University of Erlangen and has worked in both academia and industry with a focus on plastic materials, processing, and analysis. After completing her doctorate in Germany, she conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later returned there as Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Director of the Polymer Engineering Center. There, she advanced research on additive manufacturing, composite materials, and, in particular, plastics recycling.
Previously, she headed the Materials and Testing department at Fraunhofer ICT, focusing on lightweight materials for sustainable mobility and energy applications, and was Vice President of R&D at AREVO Inc., where she supported the scaling of 3D printing technologies for composite materials.
She joined NETZSCH Analyzing & Testing in Germany in 2020 and, as Division Manager Polymer, is responsible for global business development, application strategy, and technical communication. Her current focus is on practical tools for the circular economy—especially in plastics recycling—through modern material characterization and AI-supported analysis software.
Dr. rer. nat. Eva-Maria Langhammer
General Manager | Granula Polymer GmbH
Dr. Eva Langhammer holds a doctorate in chemistry (2016) and an additional master's degree in business administration (2020). Her doctoral thesis focused on cationic polymerization to hyperbranched polyethers. Since 2014, she has been the second-generation managing director of Granula Polymer GmbH and has established the company as a pioneer in sustainable and innovative cleaning granulates in the plastics processing industry.
Her master's thesis focused on the patented cleaning granulates that are now known worldwide under the GranaClean brand. Under her leadership, Granula Polymer GmbH, certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, was awarded the German Excellence Prize and the “Employer of the Future” prize in 2025. Since 2023, GranaClean cleaning granulates have been available internationally through ALBIS Distribution GmbH.
In addition to her work as a certified environmental manager and professional supply chain manager, Dr. Langhammer is involved in research projects with institutes, colleges, and universities. These collaborations contribute significantly to the continuous improvement of GranaClean cleaning granules. She is also an active member of the board of trustees of the Lüdenscheid Plastics Institute and is involved in the Poly4Nature network, which promotes knowledge transfer and sustainability in the plastics industry.
Viktoria Rothleitner
Founder & Managing Partner | Polytives GmbH
Viktoria Rothleitner is the co-founder and CEO of Polytives GmbH, an innovative chemistry startup based in Thuringia, Germany. First initiated as a project in 2017 and officially founded in 2020, Polytives aims to make plastics processing more efficient, sustainable, and resource-saving through the use of polymeric additives. The company develops solutions that enable recyclates and bioplastics to be used in demanding applications and also unlock new degrees of freedom for other plastics through innovative technology. In doing so, Polytives makes an important contribution to the circular economy and to more sustainable business practices overall.
Rothleitner studied Nutritional Science and later completed a Master of Science in Business Studies for Scientists at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. New approaches that combine interdisciplinary thinking with practical implementation shape her mindset as a founder.
Beyond her entrepreneurial activities, she is committed to societal and regional issues. She actively supports the alliance “Weltoffenes Thüringen”, contributes her experience to various advisory boards, and is closely connected within the Startup Community Thuringia, where she supports the organizing team and fosters exchange, cooperation, and mutual support.
With this combination of scientific background, business expertise, and social engagement, Viktoria Rothleitner represents an entrepreneurial spirit that unites innovation, responsibility, and openness.
Dr. Kylie König
Business Development Manager Compounding | SÜDPACK VERPACKUNGEN SE & Co. KG
Dr. Kylie König has been Business Development Manager for Compounds at SÜDPACK Verpackungen SE & Co. KG since October 2021. Her focus is on implementing sustainable material solutions with recyclates and biopolymers for extrusion and injection molding. Another goal is to close material loops in close collaboration with customers, making a valuable contribution to conserving resources and reducing CO₂ emissions.
Her academic career began with a degree in aerospace engineering, followed by a doctorate in plastics technology from RWTH Aachen University and Maastricht University. This combination of technical know-how and innovative research forms the basis for her expertise in the field of modern material technologies.
Before joining SÜDPACK, Dr. König gained valuable experience at Technimark, where she worked in quality assurance for injection molding applications. There she deepened her technical understanding and her ability to combine complex industrial requirements with innovative solutions.
Jan-Martin Kaiser
Chief expert & research group manager | Robert Bosch GmbH
Jan-Martin Kaiser studied mechatronics at Saarland University and earned his doctorate in plastics engineering. He has been working as a research engineer at Robert Bosch GmbH in Renningen since 2013, where he has headed the research group for component design, reliability, and validation of plastic components since 2018. In addition, he has been responsible for multiscale simulation methods for metals and polymers since 2023.
Dr. Elke Metzsch-Zilligen
Director Plastics Division | Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Dr. Metzsch-Zilligen studied chemistry at the University of Cologne and received her PhD in physical chemistry in 2006. After working in the food industry for several years, she joined the German Plastics Institute (DKI) in 2011, which was integrated into Fraunhofer LBF in 2012. There she headed the “Additivation and Durability” department until April 1, 2024, when she subsequently took over as director of the plastics division at Fraunhofer LBF.
Her research focuses on the synthesis of new additives and the selection and evaluation of optimized additives/additive systems for thermoplastics depending on the application. She has also been working on the sustainability of plastics for many years. This includes significantly improving the quality of recyclates through adapted post-stabilization to improve the mechanical, sensory and optical properties in order to increase the amount of recyclates used or to enable the substitution of virgin material by recyclates in the first place.
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