Sustainability is the predominant theme at this year's K trade fair. The Swiss chemicals group Clariant is also addressing the topic and wants to support the plastics industry's focus on a more circular economy and raw material efficiency with several new initiatives.
Significant impetus for the reduction, reuse and recycling of plastics is to be provided by the new EcoCircle initiative, which deals with the entire process along the circular value chain of plastics.
EcoCircle brings together Clariant's company-wide expertise and technologies relevant to mechanical and chemical recycling to identify and develop products with outstanding circular benefits. EcoCircle also provides a platform that facilitates knowledge sharing, collaboration with customers and joint, value-creating ideation on specific circular topics with external partners, from consumers to brand owners, recyclers, plastics manufacturers and scientists.
Research and development in centres of excellence
To support the goals of the EcoCircle initiative, Clariant is establishing EcoCircle Centres of Excellence centres dedicated to the joint research and development of products and solutions for a circular plastics economy. The first of these centres is located in the House for Innovation Projects at the Clariant Masterbatches business unit site in Pogliano (Italy).
Several projects focussing on the mechanical recycling of plastic packaging have already been initiated. One focus is on joint project development with customers and value-added partners for a more advanced packaging design. This includes both the colouring of recyclates and the recycling process, and a mini recycling plant for polyolefins and supporting laboratory capacities are already planned for this purpose.
New product designations for sustainability
The products presented by Clariant at the K four sustainability designers take account of the fact that customers and markets are looking for special sustainability features. The four designations are appended to the respective product name to make it easier to recognise products with corresponding core benefits.
- Aqua - water-saving products that help customers and/or the value chain to reduce water consumption in the immediate or final use of their applications by at least 20 per cent.
- Terra - Products made from renewable raw materials with a Renewable Carbon Index (RCI) of at least 50 per cent on the basis of a certified mass balance or the actual renewable product content.
- Circle - Products with the primary purpose of supporting customers and/or the value chain in reducing raw material consumption through reuse and recycling with validated performance in the market.
- Vita - products of natural origin with a genuine RCI of at least 98 per cent.
Clariant at the K trade fair 2019: Stand J11 in Hall 8a
Source: Clariant
