Chemical Recycling

Lars Kissau from BASF discusses the evolution of ChemCycling, an initiative aimed at promoting a circular economy. Originating from BASF’s Corporate Strategy and Sustainability Unit, ChemCycling seeks to address the global issue of plastic waste, of which only 20% is recycled. By utilizing pyrolysis, an established but small-scale technology, BASF aims to convert plastic waste into valuable pyrolysis oil, thus reducing CO2 emissions and replacing fossil feedstocks. The initiative involves collaboration with technology partners and customers to build an ecosystem for scalable solutions. Despite concerns about energy intensity and efficiency, BASF’s life cycle assessments demonstrate significant CO2 reductions. Kissau highlights the potential of chemical recycling for complex, multi-layer plastics and stresses the importance of transitioning to a circular economy to achieve long-term sustainability goals.