Environmental technology

How can we protect ourselves against extreme weather, ensure we have clean drinking water, and prevent our waste from getting out of hand, while at the same time supporting a growing population with increasing resource consumption? These are some of the key questions that researchers in environmental technology are working to answer.

Aerial view of a wastewater treatment plant overlooking Aarhus Bay. Photo: Aarhus Vand

Environmental technology involves developing technical solutions that protect the environment and human health, while promoting a more sustainable use of the Earth's resources. It encompasses advanced purification technologies and circular resource utilization, as well as digital monitoring of environmental impacts. However, it also relates to our consumption patterns and how we can improve practices such as reuse and recycling, from plastics to textiles.

Environmental technology is founded on a profound understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes underlying local and global environmental issues. DTU develops methods for dealing with contaminated soil and water, improves the management of waste and wastewater, supports access to clean drinking water, and helps prepare our cities for a future with more extreme weather.

At DTU, researchers work closely with society, including industry, authorities, and international partners, to translate new knowledge into tangible solutions. We do this through technology, natural science, and interdisciplinary collaboration, where researchers incorporate everything from satellite monitoring to robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainability assessments. 

DTU’s three focus areas for research in environmental technology

Waste

Through our consumption, we humans create enormous amounts of waste and residual materials, which we need to utilize in a more circular way in the future.

DTU is researching how to improve the management of waste, wastewater sludge, and construction waste—and how to utilize resources and recycle everything from plastic to furniture, shoes, and textiles.

Additionally, we are exploring methods to monitor and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, biogas plants, and composting facilities, among other sources.

Pollution

When chemicals, nanomaterials, and microplastics are released into our environment, it is essential that we can identify them and tackle the problems they cause.

DTU’s research focuses on reducing the risk of air, soil, and groundwater pollution by investigating and assessing the impact of critical natural and man-made processes. This takes place in the laboratory, in the field, and through digital modelling of reality.

DTU also advises authorities, organizations, and industry on pollution, including through the PFAS Centre, which is headed by DTU and aims to increase knowledge about PFAS and contribute to protection against PFAS-related risks. 

Water

Water is essential for all life, which is why DTU conducts extensive research into water

Part of the research focuses on purifying and reusing water in cities and industries, as well as removing micro-pollutants such as pesticide residues, pesticide metabolites, PFAS, and disease-causing microorganisms from our drinking water. This can be achieved, for example, through environmental biotechnology, where microorganisms can remove or transform biodegradable pollutants, or with other innovative technological solutions that researchers assess before use to ensure they are environmentally sustainable.

DTU's research also focuses on addressing climate change and extreme weather, as well as adapting our drinking water and wastewater systems to minimize the impact of extreme weather on human health and the natural aquatic environment.

Centre to protect Danes from PFAS

Denmark's PFAS Centre has been established to generate new knowledge about PFAS and its consequences for the environment, health, and food safety. The center conducts research into how pollution can be prevented, contained, and cleaned up, while also advising authorities and society on the best solutions.

The PFAS Centre's research

The PFAS Centre, which is funded by the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, is a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, the University of Southern Denmark, Aarhus University, and the Technical University of Denmark, where the centre is located. It conducts several research projects that investigate how to prevent, limit, and mitigate PFAS pollution.

The projects range from developing new technologies to protect our drinking water, finding sustainable alternatives to PFAS in green technology, and mapping where PFAS accumulates in nature, animals, and humans. At the same time, researchers are developing new analytical methods to detect both known and previously unknown PFAS substances, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the risks to the environment and human health.

See the complete list of research projects at the Centre's research into PFAS - PFAS Centre.

Our environment is full of PFAS, and the problem is so extensive that it cannot be completely cleaned up. We need more knowledge to ensure that the solutions are long-term and that society makes informed investments.
Anders Baun Professor at the PFAS Centre

Facts about PFAS

Fact

What are PFAS?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of man-made chemicals containing over 10,000 different substances. They are known for their strong bonds between carbon and fluorine, which makes them very stable and difficult to break down. For that reason, they are often called ‘forever chemicals’.

PFAS are used in a wide range of products, including paint, rainwear, kitchenware, and cleaning products, where they are utilized for their water-, dirt-, and grease-repellent properties.

Fact

Why are PFAS an environmental problem?

PFAS have been detected in soil, groundwater, rainwater, and food worldwide.

PFAS are problematic because the substances do not break down and are highly mobile in the environment, accumulating in humans and animals. This means that long-term exposure, even low levels, has been associated with a range of adverse health effects, e.g., in relation to the risk of developing cancer, reduced fertility and low birth weight, weakening of the body's ability to fight infections, liver damage, and increased cholesterol levels.

What is absolute sustainability?

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We find solutions, and then we work to bring them to life.
Professor Michael Z. Hauschild Centre of Absolute Sustainability, DTU

The DTU Centre for Absolute Sustainability brings a new focus to research: from what's less bad to what's good enough. We call it absolute sustainability. Absolute sustainability is assessed in relation to the Earth's total raw material resources and how much the planet can tolerate in terms of climate, biodiversity and chemical impacts.

The center also focuses on the development and application of engineering solutions that can contribute to absolute sustainability.

Read more about the Centre for Absolute Sustainability here

DTU’s study programmes in environment and sustainability

Would you like to develop solutions that can make our world greener and more sustainable?

At DTU, you can choose programmes that cover everything from the environment and biology to aquatic resources and food safety. Here, you combine natural sciences with technology and learn to use your knowledge to solve real-world problems in society – whether it's cleaner water, better food quality, or new biological technologies.

As a student, you will be part of an international study environment where you will work closely with both researchers and companies on current challenges.

You can study:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Biotechnology
  • Fisheries Technology
  • Food Safety and Quality

Environmental and climate technology

Climate technology and environmental technology overlap in several areas. Broadly speaking, climate technology is concerned with monitoring, mitigating, and adapting to climate change. Environmental technology is about protecting and improving the environment in a broad sense, as well as ensuring sustainable resource management.

Environmental technology
Environmental technology encompasses technologies and methods for reducing pollution, purifying water and air, managing waste, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. The focus is broadly on the state of the environment – both locally and globally – regardless of the cause of the impact.

Climate technology
Climate technology focuses specifically on counteracting climate change and managing its consequences. It encompasses the development and implementation of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., renewable energy, energy efficiency) or remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, as well as solutions for climate adaptation (e.g., coastal protection, resilient infrastructure).
Read about Climate Technology

Make use of DTU’s experts in environmental technology

Charlotte Scheutz

Charlotte Scheutz Professor, Head of Section Waste, Climate & Monitoring Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering Mobile: +45 26285828

Charlotte Scheutz is an expert in waste management and an internationally renowned expert in research on methane emissions from landfills and biogas plants. Her work is also focused on life cycle assessment of technologies and systems for waste management (landfills and composting) as well as monitoring greenhouse gases and their climate impact.

Anders Baun

Anders Baun Professor, Head of Section Environmental Contamination and Chemicals Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering Mobile: +45 42702035

Anders Baun is an expert in chemical risk assessment, with a particular focus on environmental impacts of PFAS and nanomaterials. He is the head of the Danish PFAS Centre, a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, the University of Southern Denmark, Aarhus University and DTU. The centre runs several research projects investigating how we can prevent, reduce, and clean up PFAS pollution.

Roland Löwe

Roland Löwe Associate Professor, Head of Section Water Systems Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering Phone: +45 45251694 Mobile: +45 93510713

Roland Löwe er lektor og sektionsleder af Water Systems. Han forsker i klimatilpasning og sikring af vores byer mod stigende grundvand, skybrud, oversvømmelser m.m. Det sker med udgangspunkt i maskinlæring, dataanalyse og modellering og har fokus på både overvågning og effektiv styring af urbane vandsystemer.

Questions and answers about environmental technology

Depending on the type of contamination, you can either clean the soil on-site or dig it up and treat it. This can be achieved through soil washing, where the contamination is rinsed out with water or chemicals, or through thermal treatment, where the soil is heated to cause the toxic substances to evaporate. A more sustainable method is to use microorganisms to degrade organic contaminants naturally.

Groundwater can be purified by pumping the water up, treating it, and then sending it back down. Activated carbon filters can also be used to absorb a range of pollutants, including certain types of PFAS and pesticides. Other methods use UV light and hydrogen peroxide to break down some organic contaminants into less harmful compounds. Finally, biological purification can be carried out, in which microorganisms break down organic pollutants.

Wastewater is first purified mechanically, where larger particles such as sand and waste are removed. This is followed by biological treatment, where microorganisms break down organic matter. Chemical treatment is then used to remove phosphorus and other nutrients. The treated water can then be discharged into the environment, while the remaining sludge is often used for energy recovery or nutrient recycling. The sludge can be converted into biogas, which can be used to generate electricity and heat, and the nutrients in the sludge can be extracted and utilized. For example, 80 per cent of the phosphorus in our food ends up in wastewater, so there is a strong focus on extracting it and converting it into fertilizer for agricultural use. Denmark is a leader in the development of technology for treatment plants, and DTU supports this with Denmark's largest research and education environment in water technology.

Materials such as paper, glass, and metal that are sorted correctly are sent for recycling. Waste that is not suitable for recycling is sent for incineration.

DTU researchers are developing technologies that utilize sensors and artificial intelligence to enhance waste sorting, making waste easier to recycle. They are also trying to utilize materials from items such as mattresses and trainers, which would otherwise be sent for incineration.

Reuse means that a product is used again without modification. That is, in its original form and for the same purpose, for example, a beer bottle that is washed and refilled with beer.

Recycling means that the product is broken down into its constituent raw materials. The raw materials are then used to manufacture new products. For example, a glass bottle may be melted down and turned into new bottles, or clothes may be torn apart and the textile fibres used to make rugs and other textiles.

In general, reuse is the most environmentally beneficial option, while recycling is preferable to producing new materials from virgin resources.

When plastic is recycled, it undergoes a series of processes to be converted into new products.

The collected plastic waste is first sorted at a sorting plant. Here, it is divided into different types of plastics, such as PET, PP, and PVC.

The sorted plastic is then washed to remove food residues, labels, and other contaminants. The cleaned plastic is processed into flakes or granules. The granules can be used as raw material for new plastic products, such as bags, bottles, or building materials.

The manufacture of new products from recycled plastic saves both energy and resources, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to manufacturing new plastic from crude oil.

However, there is a big difference in the quality of recycled plastic. Sometimes it is necessary to use plastic for products of lower quality than the original. For example, there are high requirements for plastic used as food packaging, whereas the criteria for garden furniture or traffic cones, for example, are lower.

 

Each person in Denmark produces an average of 1.5 kg of waste per day. Fortunately, some of it can be reused, recycled, or converted into energy.

Reuse of waste provides the most significant value, as products are used again in their original form and for the same purpose, without significant processing. Reuse is often enabled through second-hand shops and digital platforms.

Recycling, on the other hand, means that a product is processed and broken down into raw materials, which are then used to manufacture new products.

The recycling of waste occurs within individual waste fractions. Paper, glass, metal, and other materials are broken down into their original raw components and then reprocessed into new products.

Some of our waste is used to produce heat and electricity. Food waste can be used in the production of biogas, just as residual waste can be used in incineration at waste-to-energy plants.

The circular economy, which focuses on reusing and recycling resources to minimize waste and maximize the value of materials, accounts for only a few per cent of our consumption in Denmark. In 2023, it accounted for 4% of Danish consumption – globally, it accounted for 7%. 

Climate change has led to Denmark experiencing more extreme weather phenomena such as cloudbursts, storm surges, and flooding.

To reduce the risk of flooding, cities and coastal areas are being protected through a combination of measures. This includes expanding sewer systems, creating retention basins for rainwater, installing green roofs, building dykes, raising quaysides, and more.

Protection also includes modelling and warning systems that can predict where and when there is a risk of flooding. With this knowledge, we can plan and act in time to minimize damage.

 

Environmental problems are often man-made disturbances of the natural environment. Examples of environmental problems include pollution, global warming, loss of biodiversity, and more.

Technologies can help reduce our impact on the environment. For example, research is being conducted into advanced water treatment technologies using electrochemistry, UV-based lighting, or other methods to remove contaminants such as PFAS.

Other technologies help monitor the environment, allowing for a quick response to undesirable events. This could involve predicting and thus limiting flooding, stopping the release of chemicals or other unwanted substances, or optimizing the sorting of our waste using sensors and artificial intelligence so that as much as possible can be recycled.

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