Stepping Towards a Sustainable Polymer Age!
The “Sustainable Polymer Chemistry“ (SPC) Group is embedded in the Department of Molecules and Materials at the Universiteit Twente in the Faculty of Science and Technology. SPC is also a member of the MESA+ Institute and the Polymer Center Twente (PCT).
With a major focus on the design and formulation of macromolecules, the interdisciplinary SPC team focuses on developing new sustainable polymeric materials with a focus on the synthesis of new molecules.
The SPC group develops novel synthesis strategies and polymeric materials to tackle fundamental questions. The main focus of the group is novel (bio)degradable and chemically modified biobased materials, primarily based on phosphorus-containing polymers or biopolymers, such as starch, cellulose, or lignin.
We combine several state-of-the-art technologies to produce smart materials for drug delivery, agriculture, adhesive or separation technologies, flame retardants, and optics – always based on the molecular control of macroscopic properties.
The expertise of our interdisciplinary team combines modern organic and inorganic chemistry with precision polymer synthesis and colloidal formulations (miniemulsion, reactions at the interface, etc.), polymer brushes, polymer processing (foaming, 3D printing, etc.) with molecular characterization and precise imaging techniques (especially atomic force microscopy) to complement the materials preparations.
To learn more about the SPC team, possible openings, and collaboration requests, contact us or our secretariat via spc-tnw@utwente.nl.
OUR Vision
To shape a fossil-free future by reinventing polymers through molecular design, bio-based materials, and circular thinking—creating sustainable solutions that transform industries, protect ecosystems, and improve everyday life.
We envision a world where smart, degradable polymers inspired by nature are the foundation of healthcare, agriculture, and advanced materials — developed in a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, and responsibility.
OUR Mission
We merge synthetic precision with nature-inspired, interdisciplinary chemistry to create biodegradable, circular polymer materials—engineered at the molecular level to solve real-world challenges.
We:
- Advance molecular innovation for targeted applications in healthcare, agriculture, coatings, and packaging.
- Design polymers for controlled degradation and tailored performance, using biobased feedstocks and life-cycle principles.
- Collaborate across academia, industry, and policy to translate lab-scale breakthroughs into scalable, sustainable solutions.
- Foster a culture of efficiency, transparency, respect, and teamwork—training the next generation of leaders in sustainable polymer science.
Work with us—whether you're a student, funder, or industrial partner—to shape the future of materials in a post-fossil world.
Who we are:
FULL PROFESSORS
Prof. Dr. Frederik R. Wurm (Chair and Group Leader of SPC)
- Organic and Polymer Chemistry; synthesis of biobased and biodegradable polymers; polyphosphoesters; flame-retardants; sustainable agriculture; plastics for the future.
Prof. Dr. G. Julius Vancso (Emeritus Professor and Senior Expert)
- Structure-property-applications relationships of engineering polymers, materials chemistry of stimulus-responsive macromolecules, surface engineering, and macromolecular nanotechnology.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
Dr. Mark Hempenius
- Organic and Polymer Synthesis.
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS
Dr. Joost Duvigneau
- Materials chemistry, engineering, and processing of advanced (sustainable) thermoplastics, (nano)particles and (nano)composites
Dr. Hubert Gojzewski
- Micro- and nanostructured polymers, sustainable materials for 3D printing, methods for quantitative atomic force microscopy.