Promising pilot phase, but technological and economic challenges and need for regulatory development remain
With the ChemCycling project, among other things, BASF is contributing to the development of the Reusability of plasticAt the end of 2018, the company used pilot quantities of a pyrolysis oil obtained from plastic waste as a raw material in production for the first time.
Project goals of ChemCycling
At a press conference in the run-up to the "K 2019"The four partners presented the first prototypes created during the pilot phase of the project at the world's largest trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry:
Jaguar Land Rover has developed a Plastic mounting bracket prototypes for its first electric SUV "I-Pace" made of Ultramid® B3WG6 Ccycled Black 00564.
"As part of our commitment to accelerating closed loops throughout our production, we are always looking for technological innovations that will help us, Reduce waste. The ability to produce safe quality parts from consumer waste through the ChemCycling process is an important step towards our goal of a waste-free future."
Craig WoodburnGlobal Environmental Compliance Manager at JLR
Two partners have specialised in food packaging. Storopack produced from polystyrene® P Ccycled insulated packaging for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products, Boxes for transporting fresh fish and Protective packaging for electrical appliances. Südpack presented a Polyamide film and a Polyethylene film which were processed into a specially sealed mozzarella packaging. Schneider Electric produced a Circuit breaker Made from chemically recycled Ultramid®.
Increase in the proportion of recycling possible
"BASF has set itself the goal of the ChemCycling project, Pyrolysis oil from plastic waste that are not currently recycled, such as mixed or contaminated plastics. If the project can be developed to market maturity, ChemCycling can contribute to solving the plastic waste problem as an innovative addition to existing recycling and reutilisation processes."
Stefan Gräter, Head of the ChemCycling project at BASF
The huge potential of chemical recycling was confirmed by management consultants McKinsey in a study published in December 2018: if established and new recycling processes such as chemical recycling are combined, the experts believe a global recycling rate for plastics of 50 % by 2030 possible (today: 16 %). The proportion of chemical recycling could then increase from the current one per cent to around 17 %, which corresponds to the recycling of 74 million tonnes of plastic waste.
Technological, economic and regulatory challenges
However, various aspects still need to be clarified between the pilot phase and market maturity. BASF is currently examining various options as to how the company's production network can be combined with commercial quantities of pyrolysis oil can be supplied.
In order for chemical recycling to be accepted on the market, regulatory authorities also need to officially recognise as recycling. Within this framework, they must define how chemical recycling and mass balance approaches can contribute to the fulfilment of statutory recycling quotas.
[infotext icon] More information about ChemCycling at:
basf.com/chemcycling [/infotext]
Source: BASF SE
