CLIB International Conference – CIC2026

The CLIB International Conference (CIC) brings together leading experts from academia, industry, and policymaking each year to discuss the future of industrial biotechnology, trends in biomanufacturing and the circular economy, as well as sustainable solutions for a wide range of industries.

In this context, Lukas Reisky spoke at CIC 2026 about the future of the plastics industry. His presentation focused on the question of how the growing global demand for plastics can be met without compromising resource efficiency and environmental protection. In this regard, enzymatic recycling offers a promising approach by enabling plastics waste to be selectively broken down into its constituent monomers under comparatively mild conditions. These monomers can then be reused as building blocks for the production of new polymers. The presentation also addressed solutions for plastic products that remain in the environment after use. In certain agricultural applications, for example, recycling is not practically feasible. In such cases, materials should be designed to be biodegradable in order to prevent the accumulation of microplastics in the environment. Where the inherent biodegradability of specific plastic types is limited, the targeted incorporation of enzymes can provide a viable option.

The presentation highlighted that, by investing in areas such as in advanced enzymatic technologies, Covestro is working to establish a more sustainable polymer industry. The goal is to address today's environmental and resource challenges while responsibly advancing the essential role that plastics continue to play across numerous industries and the global economy.