Plastic products also play an important role in a sustainable economy. The recycling industry improves its carbon balance – at LANXESS, too. This starts with design and includes intelligent processes for resource-efficient and environmentally friendly recycling.
Recycling management: a dynamic interaction of many technologies
Production:
Chemparks are an example of resource efficiency in production. By locating chemical and chemical-related companies at sites with industry-specific infrastructure, it is possible to make use of by-products and waste products, as well as waste heat and water. They create a starting point for further products and processes.
Design:
Recycling-friendly design is an important product requirement. However, there can be a conflict with the need for durability and resilience. Durable products with good material properties, for example in lightweight construction, can have high environmental benefits, even if they are not (yet) recyclable.
Products:
Use once and toss? No. Products that stand for more safety, durability and high benefits? Yes.
The recycling industry demands new solutions from many players. Openness to new technology and creative freedom are required from all decision-makers.
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
Chemical recycling:
The material is broken down into its chemical building blocks. Suitable processes for plastics include pyrolysis (thermal splitting), hydrogenation (addition of hydrogen to other chemical elements) or depolymerisation (decomposition of macromolecules into their constituent parts). These building blocks correspond to the quality of the original building blocks. Chemical recycling can process waste that is too complex or too contaminated for mechanical recycling. Whether the processes themselves are environmentally efficient must be determined in each individual case.
2
Mechanical recycling:
This generally refers to mechanical or physical steps such as sorting, washing, melting and filtering. The material is then returned to the material cycle: plastic bottles can become bottles again. Or granulate becomes a noise barrier, for example. Such downcycling is not always desirable, though. Chemical recycling can help to avoid it.
3
Reuse:
Reusability is not limited to bottles. Industrial products, such as machines, can also be leased or purchased from their original owners. Appropriate trade fairs and business models already exist. The market has further potential.
4
Bioeconomy:
CO2 can be used as a raw material in a variety of biotechnological instances. Microorganisms can be used to bind CO2 into biomass or convert it into valuable substances. As in the case of chemical CO2 usage, the sustainability of the process must always first be examined. And last but not least, the photosynthesis of plants can be used to bind CO2 in biomass, such as algae.
5
Energy recovery:
This refers to combustion with energy recovery, which in turn flows back into the production cycle.
6
Material use of CO2:
CO2 can be utilized as a raw material for plastics, fuels and building materials. Whether as a combustion product or as process gas – CO2 is a source of carbon that industries must make better use of in order to become less dependent on oil. Especially for organic chemistry, carbon is the primary element. Moreover, CO2 use, combined with energy efficiency measures, contributes to reducing emissions.
The focus of sustainable management is on resource-saving, durable, repairable products. Recycling opportunities are diverse. (This graphic does not imply or reflect quantification).
Taking it step-by-step to a recycling economy: three examples
Recycle more, yet still maintain high material quality and avoid plastic leaks. This is how LANXESS takes its responsibility seriously.
The proportion of recycled materials is increasing
LANXESS takes its environmental responsibility very seriously. The Group is working on improving its already efficient use of energy and raw materials and is applying all available technologies to further reduce emissions and waste. With its products, LANXESS actively supports the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon society. Our focus is on the entire life cycle of products. Circular economy starts with product design and includes environmentally efficient benefits, such as electric mobility. Recyclability is one of several ecological aspects. LANXESS includes a number of products in its portfolio that contain a significant proportion of recyclates (products from a recycling process).
Equivalent to new goods
LANXESS is researching options that make product recycling more attractive and easier. Our aim is to continually lower the proportion of primary raw materials used in the product cycle. One example of innovation is Tepex brand product types that consist of recycled fibers embedded in a matrix of recycled thermoplastic material. Thermoplastics are plastics that can be shaped by heat. This process can be repeated as often as required.
“Tests on initial material samples have shown that these recycled grades are equivalent to their counterparts made of virgin material in terms of mechanical properties and flame retardancy,” explains Dirk Bonefeld, Manager of LANXESS Bond-Laminates. Bond-Laminates opened two new production lines for Tepex in Brilon, Germany at the end of 2019. It is the company’s response to the strong demand for resilient components in manufacturing light cars and consumer electronics.
LANXESS focuses on collaborations
The transition to a circular economy cannot be attained by one company alone. That’s why LANXESS relies on strategic alliances. The company works with partners to develop new solutions, particularly in the field of chemical recycling. LANXESS has also been involved in Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) since 2016. Plastics manufacturers from all over the world have voluntarily committed themselves to this campaign, which aims is to close plastic leaks and prevent industry-related environmental pollution caused by microplastics. This concerns all the elements in the supply chain, from production to storage and transport to processing. Incidentally, the number of OCS signatories in Europe represents about 98% of all European plastics production.
LANXESS has also signed the PlasticsEurope voluntary industry commitment known as Plastics 2030. In it, European plastics manufacturers pledge to attain high reuse and recycling rates of 60% by 2030. This is an important step towards achieving a 100% recycling rate for plastic packaging in the EU-28 by 2040.
