Expo 2025 Osaka

The German Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka is dedicated to a central topic for our future: the circular economy under the motto “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. Fraunhofer UMSICHT will be represented at the world exhibition from April 13 to October 13 and will present the two main topics “Circular plastics for resource-efficient products” and “Mushroom-based materials”.

Circular plastics for resource-efficient products

Plastic is indispensable for resource-efficient products. Too much plastic is incinerated or pollutes the environment due to a lack of or inefficient recycling. This reduces the appreciation of the great potential of this useful material. Fraunhofer UMSICHT provides impetus for the circular design of the plastics industry, focusing on design, production and use as well as disposal and recycling. At the Expo, we will be presenting high-performance plastics made from bio-based raw materials and recycled materials.

Mushroom-based materials

Fraunhofer UMSICHT is also researching environmentally friendly production processes with optimized production and material cycles that reduce waste, as well as the development of circular materials. One example is mycelium materials, which are produced from the network of fungi, the mycelium, and organic residues. When the mycelium grows in the residues, it binds them together. This creates a light, flexible, biodegradable material. This can be processed into strong, lightweight and insulating materials. Mycelium materials offer promising heat and sound insulation properties. Visitors can get to know these materials at the Expo.

The German Pavilion at the Expo

Under the motto “Wa! Germany”, the German Pavilion has dedicated itself to the circle - the circular economy and sustainability - in its title, its form, its exhibition and its concept. ‘Wa’ means ‘circle’, ‘harmony’ and ‘wow’ in Japanese.