Zurich, September 18, 2026 – Grensol has successfully completed its national innovation project with HEIG-VD (School of Engineering and Management Vaud), supported by Innosuisse. The project, entitled “Using Photonics to Recover Critical Materials from Automotive Shredder Residue and Mixed Plastic Waste at Substantially Reduced Carbon Emissions”, advanced photonic processing technology towards practical applications in recovering valuable materials from complex waste streams like automotive shredder residues.

Together, Grensol and HEIG-VD developed and tested the technology using real-world, complex waste streams. The project explored the potential to recover valuable materials while substantially reducing carbon emissions associated with conventional treatment methods.

As part of the collaboration, Grensol and HEIG-VD’s Institute of Energy has established a fully operational photolysis demonstrator, providing a platform for further testing and development. Current work is exploring potential applications for processing electronic waste and other industrial waste streams.

Grensol thanks Innosuisse for supporting Swiss innovation and the HEIG-VD team, led scientifically by Dr. Xenia Christodoulou, for its research, engineering and close collaboration throughout the project. Innosuisse congratulated the entire team on this important milestone, recognising the progress achieved through the collaboration and welcoming the continuation of the technology development journey.

While the Innosuisse project has concluded, technology development continues. Grensol is working with HEIG-VD and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), with further development supported by SPRIND, Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, through its Tech Metals Challenge.

The next phase will focus on advancing the technology towards industrial applications, with the ambition of recovering more valuable materials like critical metals from complex waste streams while reducing reliance on conventional treatment methods.

Through these collaborations, Grensol continues to pursue its mission: recovering critical materials, reducing waste and developing innovative solutions for a more resource-efficient circular economy.

About Grensol 
Founded in 2021, Grensol is an innovative recycling company committed to addressing the challenge of recovering valuable materials from highly complex waste streams. Grensol has developed a novel three-step process for extracting metals, minerals, and polymers from automotive shredder residues (ASR), reprocessing them into circular raw material inputs. The company’s first specialised facility is now operational in Solothurn.
In collaboration with research partners HEIG-VD, ETH Zurich and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Grensol continues to push the boundaries of materials separation technology for waste that is currently incinerated or landfilled, while actively exploring new industry partnerships and expanding use cases for its platform — advancing a future where even today’s most difficult waste can be transformed into valuable resources. 
Grensol is supported by Innosuisse, the Swiss Federal Office of Environment, the Swiss Climate Foundation, the City of Zurich and BlueLion through their KlimUp programme, the Foundation of Swiss Auto Recyclers, Venture Kick, EPFL Innovation Park’s Tech4Regen accelerator, Impact Hub’s Circular Economy Transition incubator, and the W.A. de Vigier Foundation.