Contact details

Prof. Dr. Julen Ibarretxe
Research Group “Life Cycle Thinking Group”
Department of Applied Physics
Bilbao School of Engineering
P. Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi 3, 48013, Bilbao, Spain
University of the Basque Country (EHU)

ResearcherID: M-3734-2014
ORCID: 0000-0002-5136-765X
Scopus Author ID: 34872377800
Research Group: https://www.ehu.eus/en/web/lifecyclethinking/home

Short biography

Julen Ibarretxe has taught Chemistry, Materials science, Polymer Science and Physics in Engineering degrees for close 20 years. The focus of his research has been finding the relationship between the processing, microstructure and final properties of polymer composites. In recent years this approach has been directed to the study of Biopolymer composites mostly, and complemented with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in order to account for the environmental impacts of the studied materials. This has led Julen to lecture about LCA in an Erasmus Mundus Master (SMACCS). According to WoS (May 2025) Julen has 34 publications, cited 451 times; 432 citing articles, h-index: 11.

List of selected ongoing projects

• “Towards a joint Aquitania-Euskadi research and higher education alliance to tackle potential risks posed by environmental and bio-based microplastics and nanoplastics in the Gulf of Biscay (LTC AquEus)”.
  Laboratorio Transfronterizo de Cooperación LTC, Euskampus Fundazioa y LTC Sarea del Gobierno Vasco. Referencia: AquEus.
  Principal researcher
  Duration: 01-01-2024/31-12-2027

• “Fate and Impact of Plastics - from Macro to Nano - on Planetary Health (PLASTIMPACT)”.
  ENLIGHT Thematic Network ETN, European University Alliance, European Commission´s Education and Audiovisual Executive Agency. Referencia: INT-ERASMUS+23/07
  Principal researcher
  Duration: 01-11-2024/31-10-2027

• “Innovative strategies to achieve smart and sustainable polygeneration systems: A focus on tailored thermal energy storage systems” (Estrategias innovadoras para alcanzar sistemas de poligeneración inteligentes y sostenibles: un enfoque en sistemas adaptados de almacenamiento térmico)
  Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain. Reference: PID2023-148958OB-C22
  IP: Gonzalo Diarce
  Duration 01-09-2024/31-08-2027

• “Renewable hydrogen and polymerization raw materials from end-of-life reinforced plastic waste from the energy and transportation sectors “ (Hidrógeno renovable y materias primas de polimerización a partir de residuos plásticos reforzados de fin de vida útil procedentes de los sectores de la energía y transporte)
  Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain. Reference: PID2023-151187OB-I00
  IP: Blanca Caballero
  Duration: 01-09-2024/31-08-2028