Breaking Bonds, Building Circles
The chemical industry sits at the forefront of the transition to a circular economy. German materials manufacturer Covestro is driving advancements in chemical recycling technologies to close the loop for various plastic materials, with a vision of becoming fully circular.
For Covestro, chemical technologies include chemolysis for recovering raw materials with chemical processes, smart pyrolysis to extract chemicals at elevated temperatures in the presence of a catalyst, and enzymatic recycling to recover raw materials using microorganisms. These technologies convert polymer molecules back into raw materials or their building blocks, enabling new products of (close to) the same quality as virgin materials. With this comprehensive approach, Covestro addresses different plastic waste streams and end-market requirements.
“We are fully geared towards circularity,” says Torsten Heinemann, Head of Group Innovation and Sustainability at Covestro. “Our goal is to close the loop by developing appropriate technologies, scale them, and make them marketable to address the growing demand for sustainable solutions.”
Among the standout initiatives are the „Foam Recycling Ecosystem Evolution“ (FREE) project, coordinated by Covestro in collaboration with Ecomaison, Secondly, and Federal Eco Foam. The project’s innovative approach begins with efficient sorting at dismantling facilities, followed by targeted mechanical and chemical recycling processes. Via the chemical recycling process both original raw materials — the polyol and the precursor to the isocyanate TDI — can be recovered with high purity.
Another such initiative is the EU-funded CIRCULAR FOAM project, coordinated by Covestro, which brings together 25partners from nine countries. It aims to build a circular value chain to close material loops for polyurethane insulation from end-of-life refrigerators and buildings based on chemical recycling.
These initiatives show clearly: It takes strong partnerships and collective systemic work to establish the infrastructure, as well as all technological and non-technological foundations for complete value chains necessary to make a true circular economy a reality. How this reality might look can be witnessed at Covestro’s booth at the K2025, where various products made from alternative raw materials will be on display.
This article was published in CHEManager International Circular Plastics Economy / 2025
This special CHEManager issue explores the industry’s pivotal shift towards a more sustainable, circular plastics value chain. Readers will find expert analysis and real-world solutions for today’s most pressing recycling and regulatory challenges.
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