Nikolina Poranek

Personal Information

1. Name: Nikolina Poranek
2. Position/Title: PhD, DSc
3. Department: Department of Technologies and Equipment for Waste Management, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology (SUT), Poland

Professional Background

4. Briefly describe your professional background and area of expertise:

   Author of over 30 scientific and industry publications with an h-index of 8 (Scopus). Her cumulative Impact Factor is 35.77. She served as the principal investigator for a Diamond Grant. She won 1st place in competitions such as "Innovation Leader" and "My Business Idea." She is a participant in international projects under the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programs. She took part in a Business Camp in Karlsruhe and completed an internship in Rome at the Unicusano University. She has been a recipient of scholarships for the most outstanding doctoral students and students at the Silesian University of Technology and received the Minister's Scholarship. She has presented papers at international and industry conferences and actively collaborates with industry. She also served as the principal investigator for a grant for launching new scientific activity and was the supervisor for two Project-Based Learning projects. She was employed as a Business Analyst and Strategic Marketing Specialist at SUEZ (later PreZero). She also worked in the UK for Rudolph & Hellmann Automotive and demonstrated cosmetic combiners at the Broadway Beauty Academy. Her passion for the beauty industry led to the patenting and production of a cavitational peeling for the scalp.

5. What inspired you to pursue a career in this related field, e.g., composite materials recycling?:

   My primary inspiration to pursue a career in composite materials recycling stems from a deep-seated drive to tackle complex environmental challenges through tangible, technological solutions. Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have been fascinated by the immense potential of advanced materials like composites, yet simultaneously confronted by the significant waste management problem they present at end-of-life. This contrast between their valuable properties and their environmental burden motivated me to bridge that gap. I was inspired by the possibility of applying fundamental scientific research to develop innovative recycling processes that can transform this waste stream back into valuable resources, thereby directly contributing to a more circular economy and reducing the ecological footprint of modern manufacturing.

It’s a privilege to contribute concrete data that supports Europe’s transition to climate neutrality.

Role in EURECOMP

6. What is your role in the EURECOMP project?:

   My role in the EURECOMP project is multifaceted to its sustainability objectives. I do the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) to quantify the environmental assessment of the recycling processes and demonstrators. I am responsible for integrating a socio-economic analysis to provide a holistic view of the societal impact, moving beyond pure environmental metrics. A key part of my responsibility is to ensure methodological and consistency across all assessments conducted within the project. I coordinate closely with technical work packages to integrate accurate data from studies and to model greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies effectively. Ultimately, my work provides the data-driven foundation to validate the project's contribution to the EU's circular economy and climate goals.

7. Can you describe your main responsibilities and tasks?

   My primary responsibility is to conduct the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) and socio-economic analysis for the project's technologies and demonstrators within WP6. This involves developing the methodological framework, performing the impact calculations, and interpreting the results. I work directly with partners to collect necessary data and provide expert insights on greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential and the overall sustainability performance of the developed circular economy solutions.

8. How does your work contribute to the overall goals of the EURECOMP project?:

   My work focuses on achieving the project's goals as I provide data-driven evidence of its sustainability. By conducting the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) and socio-economic analysis, I quantitatively determine the environmental benefits and the broader economic and social value of the new recycling technologies. This analysis directly validates whether the project's solutions are truly advancing EU climate and circular economy objectives by demonstrating quantifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improvements in resource efficiency. My findings offer indispensable insights for strategic decision-making, guiding both industrial adoption and policy development for composite materials.

Project Insights

9. What do you find most exciting about working on the EURECOMP project?:

   What I find most exciting is the opportunity to apply my expertise in Environmental LCA and socio-economic analysis directly to cutting-edge, real-world problems in composite recycling. Being able to quantitatively assess the environmental and social footprint of these innovative technologies and seeing how my analysis provides the crucial evidence for their circular economy potential is incredibly rewarding. It’s a privilege to contribute concrete data that supports Europe’s transition to climate neutrality.

10. What has been the most challenging aspect of your work on this project?

    The most significant challenge lies in the complexity of the data. My task is to develop a robust and consistent LCA and socio-economic methodology that can be fairly applied to a diverse set of recycling technologies and demonstrators, each with its own unique processes and data landscapes. Ensuring scientific rigor and comparability across these varied cases, while working with data that is often incomplete or highly technical, demands a deep level of analytical precision and problem-solving.

11. Can you share a significant milestone or achievement your team has reached so far?

    A key achievement has been the successful application of our comprehensive sustainability assessment methodology to the first set of pilot cases. By executing this analysis, we have generated the first quantifiable results, demonstrating a significant potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and resource efficiency gains. These initial findings are already providing our partners with actionable insights to refine their processes.

Personal Experience

12. What have you learned during your time working on EURECOMP?:

    This project has profoundly deepened my expertise in applying sustainability assessment tools to the complex field of advanced materials recycling. I have gained invaluable, hands-on experience in navigating the challenges of data acquisition for novel technologies and in refining methodological approaches to ensure they are both scientifically sound and practically relevant. It has reinforced the critical role of robust, data-driven analysis in bridging the gap between innovative research and industrial implementation.

13. How has this project influenced your professional development?:

    EURECOMP has been instrumental in advancing my profile as an expert in sustainability metrics. It has allowed me to pioneer the integrated application of Environmental LCA and socio-economic analysis within a high-visibility European context, significantly broadening my practical experience. This deep dive into composite materials has expanded my specialist knowledge, enhancing my ability to provide authoritative evaluations that support both industrial strategy and EU policy development.

Fun Facts

14. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

    Outside of my professional work, I greatly value an active and balanced lifestyle. I'm passionate about sports, particularly horse riding, which connects me with nature and requires both focus and harmony, and strength training, which helps me maintain discipline and resilience. I also find great pleasure in cooking — experimenting with flavours and ingredients is a creative and relaxing process for me. And of course, I never underestimate the power of a good night's sleep; it’s my foundation for productivity and well-being.

15. Share a fun fact about yourself that your colleagues might not know:

    A fun fact about me is that I have a artistic side — I love creating mixed-media art in my spare time. Combining various techniques like painting, collage, and texture work allows me to express myself freely and often inspires unexpected creativity. It’s a calming contrast to the data-driven world of sustainability assessment and helps me see things from different perspectives.