Covestro participates in IFAT 2022, the leading international trade fair for waste and raw material management

Plastics manufacturer Covestro will showcase recycling methods used in the circular economy at IFAT
.
At the joint booth of the German Association for the Management of Waste (DGAW) (Hall/Booth: A6 125/224), Covestro will outline innovative technologies for the mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics in its product range
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Covestro is also a co-exhibitor at the VCI (German Chemical Industry Association, Hall/Booth: A6 231) at the joint booth, which is entirely dedicated to the topic of chemical recycling
.

Covestro has plans to focus entirely on the circular economy
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The company is promoting innovative and resource-efficient processes with the goal of making its products recyclable
.
That's why Covestro intends to offer more material solutions based on sustainability and circularity
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Covestro's own technology development focuses on four recycling methods
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In addition to the mechanical recycling methods already used for the high-performance plastics polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Covestro is also developing chemical recycling processes: including chemical decomposition, smart pyrolysis and enzymatic recycling
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The aim of these processes is to produce recycled plastic of quality comparable to the virgin material, while significantly reducing the environmental footprint, compared to traditional production of fossil-derived polymers and polymer raw materials
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Covestro applies its core competencies in chemistry to process development
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Markus Steilemann, Chairman of the Board of Covestro, explained: "We see ourselves as a driving force in the circular economy industry that is currently developing
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In the long run, the chemical and waste management industries must be more closely linked and create synergies
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We We are actively promoting the development of the whole industry: through various recycling methods, we can systematically recycle the different raw materials required for the production of plastics
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Our goal is to fully recycle the materials in the waste products, saving fossil raw materials and reducing greenhouse gas emissions , while providing recyclable high-performance materials equivalent to virgin quality
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” The company plans to invest around 1 billion euros in circular economy projects by 2030
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Covestro already operates a pilot plant for chemical recycling of flexible polyurethane foams in Leverkusen
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In addition, Covestro will present circular solutions from its product portfolio at the IFAT trade fair in Munich to give customers a more intuitive understanding
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With the "CQ" concept, Covestro will highlight the replacement of basic raw materials in products in the future, with a reduction of 25%
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"CQ" here stands for Circular Intelligence
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Desmodur® CQ was one of the first "CQ" products
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For example, polyurethanes based on Desmodur®CQ are used in upholstered furniture, mattresses and thermal insulation
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These materials are also used in coatings for automobiles or appliances
.

Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro, said: "In order to take meaningful climate protection measures, we need to make changes, including ourselves, our customers and everyone else across the value chain
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At the same time, the benefits of applying these solutions It has to be clear
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The chemical industry has to fundamentally shift from being value chain-centric to alternative raw materials and renewable energy
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We have set ambitious goals to make our production fully circular and ultimately independent of fossil resources
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By doing so , we are supporting numerous industries to reduce the carbon footprint of their own products
.
”

Collaborate to contribute to a full circular economy

New recycling processes, collaborations with industry and research partners are making important contributions to achieving full circle
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For example, Covestro is working with 22 partners from 9 countries on the EU project 'Circular Bubble'
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The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative chemical recycling process for rigid polyurethane foam
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As an insulating material, rigid polyurethane foam can help improve the energy efficiency of refrigerators and buildings - but it still lacks coordinated waste management and proper recycling processes for a sustainable life cycle
.
From 2040, chemical recycling could save up to 1 million tonnes of waste and 2.
9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually
.