Chemical Recycling

State-of-the-art measurement technologies, artificial intelligence, and a strong network of partners are the key ingredients of the SpecReK project, led by Basf with support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In collaboration with Endress+Hauser, TechnoCompound, and the Universities of Bayreuth and Jena, the project aims to significantly improve the mechanical recycling of plastics, thus strengthening the circular economy.

Chemical recycling is an alternative to mechanical recycling used to meet ambitious recycling targets for plastic waste in the EU. This process converts polymeric waste by combining its chemical structure to produce raw materials for the manufacture of new products, avoiding the use of fuels or means of energy production. This process includes pyrolysis, which involves heating a polymer to a temperature of 400-600°C in the absence of oxygen to produce a mixture of hydrocarbons or a monomer.

Südpack, a German manufacturer of high-performance films and packaging materials for the food, non-food and medical goods industries, devotes more than 50% of its investments to technologies that help to improve sustainability. 30% of its turnover is...