Initially, this is a declaration of intent: according to the agreement, environmental services provider Interseroh intends to procure recyclables such as polyurethanes and polycarbonates from end-of-life plastic products, process them and supply them to materials manufacturer Covestro, where these secondary raw materials will be used as feedstock for new raw materials. Covestro CEO Markus Steilemann was quoted as saying that this planned cooperation is an important milestone for the convergence of the chemical and recycling industries in order to establish new value-added cycles for the circular economy. Together, the two companies want to not only reduce the CO₂ footprint of production processes and products and contribute to climate and environmental protection, but also develop new circular business models. For this to succeed, it was not only a matter of recycling know-how and innovative recycling technologies, but also of suitable regulatory framework conditions, especially for chemical recycling, Steilemann emphasizes.

Sources:

• recyclingmagazin.de (10/4/2021)
• plastverarbeiter.de (10/5/2021)
• Photo: © Covestro