Sustainability

Dialog Forum on Chemical Recycling: 

Life cycle analysis on energy requirements, CO2 emissions and the sustainability of ChemCyclingTM   

Virtual dialog on October 13, 2020

BASF launched the ChemCyclingTM project for chemical recycling with the aim of manufacturing high-quality products from chemically recycled plastic waste on an industrial scale and thus making an important contribution to the circular economy. To examine the sustainability of chemical recycling, BASF commissioned a science-based life cycle assessment (LCA). We now presented the results of this LCA to a broad public, thereby promoting the exchange of information and knowledge and to stimulate discussion.  

 

The Dialog Forum focused on the environmental aspects of chemical recycling and featured various experts as well as our project partners, who were available to answer questions in a subsequent discussion round.  

The event was open to all interested parties from business, science, politics and administration, civil society organizations, associations and media and was held in German and English with simultaneous translation.  

We thank you for your numerous participation.

Recordings of the Dialog Forum 2020

Agenda

Time Content Speaker
1.00 – 1.05  Welcome Facilitator Thorsten Pinkepank, BASF SE
1.05 – 1.15  Introduction Dr. Lars Kissau, BASF SE
1.15 – 1.30  Open questions of the German Environment Agency (UBA) about the environmental aspects 
Dr. Julia Vogel, German Environment Agency
1.30 – 1.40 

Why chemical recycling? ​
Advantages of products from chemical recycling

Erik Bouts, Südpack
1.40 – 2.20 

Practical examples - Pyrolysis plants​

  • Which plastics are used?​
  • Mass-/ Energy balance for pyrolysis incl. side flows​

Carlos Monreal, Plastic Energy 

Kjetil Bøhn, Quantafuel​

 

2.20 – 2.40  Results of the life cycle assessment (LCA) of ChemCyclingTM – CO2 emissions of recycled mixed plastic waste and the mass balance approach Dr. Christian Krüger, BASF SE
2.20 – 2.55  Statements on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of pyrolysis

Prof. Adisa Azapagic, ETHOS Research​

Dr. Florian Antony, Ökoinstitut​

Simon Hann, Eunomia

2.55 – 3.10  Break  
3.10 – 3.30 

Discussion​

Thorsten Pinkepank, BASF SE
3.30 – 3.45  Technical assessment on synergies between mechanical and chemical recycling including outlook​ Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Stapf, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
3.45 – 3.55  Significance of chemical recycling from the point of view of the recycling industry​ Jürgen Ephan, Remondis
3.55 – 4.15  Discussion​
Thorsten Pinkepank, BASF SE
4.15 – 4.30 Conclusion Dr. Christian Lach, BASF SE