BASF’s ChemCycling project kicked off at the end of 2018 with the goal of processing pyrolysis oil derived from plastic waste that currently cannot be recycled for use as a feedstock to create new products. At the K 2019 Preview, four partner companies presented the first prototypes that have come to fruition during the project’s pilot phase.

Jaguar Land Rover developed a plastic front-end carrier prototype for its electric SUV I-Pace using BASF’s Ultramid B3WG6 Ccycled Black 00564.

Storopack used Stryopor P Ccycled to make insulation packaging for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, boxes for transporting fresh fish and protective packaging for electronics.

Südpack used the material to produce polyamide and polyethylene films that were processed into sealed food packaging.

The fourth partner, Schneider Electric, manufactured a circuit breaker from chemically recycled Ultramid.

There is tremendous promise in chemical recycling: A December 2018 study by McKinsey cited by BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany) found that combining established recycling processes with new techniques such as chemical recycling would result in a 50% reuse and recycling rate for plastics worldwide by 2030. However, as BASF also noted at the K 2019 Preview, many challenges remain, including scaling production of high-quality pyrolysis oil into industrial quantities. Economic issues as well as regulatory matters—“regulators must also recognize the process officially as recycling,” noted BASF—also must be resolved if the technology is to live up to its promise.

BASF will exhibit at stand C 21–D 21 in hall 5.