Covestro LLC, with its North American headquarters in Coraopolis, is partnering with the University of Pittsburgh to develop a new graduate program.
The program, sponsored by Covestro and called the Covestro Circular Economy Program, will be focused on circular economy principles, where materials are kept in continuous use rather than becoming waste byproducts, and will be the first of its kind in the U.S. that addresses issues of global waste and material use. The program will be housed under Pitt’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and Swanson School of Engineering.
“The current linear consumption economy of ‘Take, Make, Waste’ is wholly unsuited for exponential global growth, especially as third-world economies evolve,” said Eric Beckman, Distinguished Service Professor and MCSI director emeritus and chief of innovation and translation. “Principles of the circular economy, however, improve efficiency and eliminate waste by designing sustainability into a product, from its base materials and construction to packaging, delivery and life expectancy.”
The first cohort of graduate students will be recruited for the fall 2022 semester, where they will engage in holistic training to learn about circular design principles and approaches via academics, research and cooperative employment. The program plans for students to ultimately create circular, sustainable products and service solutions.
Pitt and Covestro are looking to expand the program’s reach through partnerships with more corporations, foundations and governments.
“Transitioning to a circular economy, while not an easy task, is a societal imperative,” said Haakan Jonsson, president and chairman of Covestro. “At Covestro, our vision is to become fully circular. As a company whose products are traditionally based on fossil fuels, we know that we have a long way to go. While we aim to be a leader in implementing circularity into our business, we also know we cannot achieve this vision alone. Collaboration with forward-thinking organizations like Pitt, and the development of leading-edge programs like the Covestro Circular Economy Program are crucially important in advancing toward a circular economy.”
