Just throw away old washing machines? That may soon no longer be necessary. Researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology have developed a station that guides workers through the dismantling of appliances step by step using AI and digital instructions. Why this matters for the circular economy — and how far the technology has already come. | more
Wind turbines produce clean electricity. But what happens to their huge rotor blades when they are no longer needed? Researchers at HTWK Leipzig have a surprising answer: they turn them into a kitchen. An EU research project shows how this works and what's behind it. | more
Am 7. Juni 2026 wird Schwarzheide-Mitte zum perfekten Familienziel: Während die Stadt den Kindertag feiert, öffnen die Marken-Outlets ihre Türen zum verkaufsoffenen Shopping Sonntag. Das lohnt sich für die ganze Familie. | more
Paper packaging is considered the better choice. It is more sustainable, recyclable and environmentally friendly than plastic. But they still have one problem: they need adhesives or layers of plastic to seal them, which makes recycling more difficult. Researchers in Dresden want to change this - with a laser that creates its own adhesive in the paper. | more
Extracting copper from waste - with the help of bacteria and electron beams. What sounds like a crazy idea is reality. The Fraunhofer FEP in Dresden is running a new plant that combines the two. The yield increases, the waste shrinks. A look at a technology that could change the supply of raw materials. | more
The old car may soon be in the next new car. Researchers at TU Bergakademie Freiberg have teamed up with the BMW Group to investigate how steel, glass and plastic from end-of-life vehicles can be reused as high-quality raw materials. It is already working for steel - more research is needed for glass and plastic. What the Car2Car project shows and why this is important for our climate. | more
In jedem Verein, in jeder Straße, in jedem Treppenhaus gibt es diesen einen Menschen, der einfach da ist – ohne Bezahlung, ohne Applaus, oft ohne ein einziges Dankeschön. DIE SACHSEN NEWS startet eine neue Serie und sucht genau diese Menschen: Sachsens Alltagshelden. Und die Chancen stehen gut, dass Sie selbst schon eine oder einen kennen. | more
Millions of tons of plastic waste from rapid tests - is that necessary? HTW Dresden says no and is developing tests made from biodegradable material. The plastic is made from plant starch and composts in 90 days. Researchers in Saxony want to create a sustainable alternative for medical diagnostics. | more
What happens to disused electric motors from electric cars? A new large-scale project aims to automatically recover valuable raw materials such as rare earths. TU Bergakademie Freiberg is developing new recycling processes for magnets. Robots are learning to dismantle drives. 25 partners are working on the circular economy for electromobility. | more
Unternehmerinnen und Unternehmer in Sachsen stehen oft allein da, wenn es um die wirklich schwierigen Fragen geht. Entscheidungen, die niemand im Team mittragen kann. Zweifel, die man ungern im eigenen Netzwerk ausspricht. Und Momente, in denen man merkt: Austausch auf Augenhöhe ist selten – und doch entscheidend für gute Führung. | more
Black T-shirts and stretch jeans usually end up in waste incineration because sorting plants cannot recognize them. Researchers at the IOM in Leipzig want to change this. In a European project, they are developing new technologies with artificial intelligence that can also sort problematic textiles. The EU is funding the project with five million euros. | more
VW wants to lead the way in recycling in Zwickau: Old cars are dismantled in order to recover components and raw materials. What this means for the site. | more
In Dresden-Pieschen fertigt Andrea Rehn im Zentralwerk personalisierte Geschenke für frischgebackene Eltern und deren Familien. Besonders gefragt sind bestickte Windeln mit Geburtsdaten sowie kreative Windeltorten – und das nicht nur online, sondern auch deutschlandweit über DM-Märkte. Jetzt gibt es 10 Prozent Rabatt im Shop. | more
A special kind of camera is being developed at the Fraunhofer IPMS in Dresden: it combines artificial intelligence with spectral analysis to detect the chemical properties of materials. The compact technology makes quality checks in factories, recycling plants and fields faster, more precise and more sustainable. From fresh food to single-origin plastic recycling - the development opens up numerous applications. | more
Old cell phones and computers usually end up in the trash - but they contain valuable raw materials. A team from Freiberg has now developed a clever recycling process to recover gold, copper and rare earths. The six researchers from the Helmholtz Institute convinced an international jury and secured millions in funding. Their environmentally friendly process could help to reduce dependence on critical raw material imports. | more
Zahnbehandlungen können in Deutschland schnell zur finanziellen Belastung werden. Besonders bei Implantaten, Kronen, Brücken oder umfangreichem Zahnersatz liegen die Kosten häufig im vierstelligen Bereich. Viele Patienten stehen dann vor einer schwierigen Entscheidung: Behandlung durchführen lassen und hohe Eigenanteile zahlen – oder den Eingriff aufschieben, obwohl er medizinisch sinnvoll wäre. | more
A medium-sized company in eastern Saxony specializes in the recycling of bicycle batteries. The Free State of Saxony is supporting a new repair center. | more
A modified enzyme from Leipzig's South Cemetery decomposes plastic in record time and is said to be the solution to the plastic crisis. | more
Am 7. Juni 2026 wird Schwarzheide-Mitte zum perfekten Familienziel: Während die Stadt den Kindertag feiert, öffnen die Marken-Outlets ihre Türen zum verkaufsoffenen Shopping Sonntag. Das lohnt sich für die ganze Familie. | more
One year after a piece of forest near Ottendorf-Okrilla was cleared for gravel extraction, Left Party politician Antonia Mertsching has accused the authorities of serious negligence. | more
