Evonik is pooling its activities for circular plastics as part of the transition to a circular economy. The company offers solutions for all stages in the polymer value chain.
Evonik
Evonik aims to generate sales through circular plastics
Key VisualCircular Plastics Program
Evonik will also increase the use of sustainable raw materials from circular sources in its own production processes. Overall, the company expects its global circular plastics programme to generate additional sales of more than €350m a year by 2030.
Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman of Evonik's executive board, said: “The careful use of resources and protection of the climate leads us down the path towards a circular economy. We have the innovative capability to create new materials cycles with fewer fossil-based feedstocks and more circular ones. We intend to utilise that potential.”
Lauren Kjeldsen, responsible for Evonik's global circular plastics programme, added: “We are working closely with partners along the entire polymer value chain to make this happen. Innovations are the key to success.”
In mechanical recycling, plastics are sorted, prepared and washed, before being melted and granulated into a recyclate. This procedure is used mainly for thermoplastics and in a similar process for old tyres. Evonik experts are working to help recyclers significantly improve the efficiency and quality of the processes through customised surfactants to ensure labels can be removed quickly without leaving residues, while defoamers simplify washing processes and dewatering agents save energy and time. Another focus is minimising the odour of the recyclate. Specialty additives from Evonik can increase the amount of high-quality re-usable recyclate obtained by about five per cent.
Evonik aims to offer such solutions for about 400,000 metric tonnes of recyclable plastics by 2025.
Evonik offers modern technologies that play a part in making pyrolysis more efficient. Examples are additives, catalysts, and membranes for the treatment of gas. These pyrolysis oils and synthesis gases can be used as raw materials for the production of plastics.