Covestro Builds up Mechanical Reycling in Asia
German engineering plastics producer Covestro is buiilding its first dedicated line for mechanical recycling (MCR) of polycarbonates at its integrated site in Shanghai, China. The new 25,000 t/y facility, which will cost €27 million, is planned to start up in 2023.
Covestro said the investment addresses the growing demand for more sustainable solutions in engineering plastics, in particular post-consumer-recycled (PCR) products.
Plastics recyclate from the new line will be used primarily in compounding for products sold to the electrical & electronics, automotive and consumer goods sectors. In total, Covestro said it aims produce more than 60,000 t/y of polycarbonates and blends with recycled content in Asia Pacific up to 2026.
At a groundbreaking ceremony in Shanghai, Sucheta Govil, Covestro‘s chief commercial officer, said the MCR production line is another step the company is taking to fulfill its commitment toward a circular economy and achieve its goal to become climate neutral by 2035.
Govil said the plastics maker will continue to invest in expanding and improving its capacity for recycled polymer and leading the industry to create materials with higher recycled content.
Separately, the former Bayer Material Science is converting an existing compounding line at its Map Ta Phut site in Thailand to focus on mechanical recycling. The revamp is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022.
The post-consumer polycarbonate will be sold to multiple industries in the ASEAN region. Based on the current forecast, Covestro calculates that PCR-based plastics will account for up to 10% of its annual production volume by 2030.
Nicolas Stoeckel, head of operations in Covestro‘s Engineering Plastics business segment, said the new Asian investments are not only about increasing capacity, but also about improving the company‘s capability to produce more products with higher recycled content and more consistent quality.
With a recyclate content of up to 75%, the PCR polycarbonates made at the two two new Asian facilities and marketed as Makrolon R and Bayblend R will contribute to a carbon footprint reduction of up to 50% while meeting performance and eco-label requirements, Covestro said.
Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist
