Plastics from CO₂

CO₂ can also serve as an alternative raw material in plastics production. Covestro uses the greenhouse gas in place of crude oil to help advance the circular economy.

CO₂ can serve as an alternative carbon feedstock in plastics production. Covestro uses captured carbon dioxide in place of primary fossil feedstocks, reducing dependency on crude oil and natural gas and advancing a circular carbon economy.

We use CO₂ to produce carbon monoxide (opens in a new tab). This enables us to save up to around 50 percent of fossil raw materials. At selected sites we use the CO₂-based carbon monoxide to produce the engineering plastic polycarbonate as well as isocyanates, a key components of polyurethane foams.

Covestro has also demonstrated that CO₂ can be used to produce polyol, another important polyurethane precursor alongside isocyanate. To this end, we have developed a special process (opens in a new tab) together with partners and tested it on the market.

Further Information

  • Bio-based Raw Materials

    Plastics can be produced using plants from sustainable cultivation as a substitute for crude oil. Covestro offers numerous corresponding products.

  • Recycled Raw Materials

    Plastic waste must increasingly be kept in circulation. Covestro is driving the use of recyclates in production.

  • Mass Balance Approach

    Fossil and alternative raw materials can be processed together – and clearly allocated in the plastic product. A method that Covestro uses.

  • Alternative Raw Materials

    Plastics are still predominantly based on fossil raw materials. Covestro is increasingly using alternative sources: biomass, recyclates, and CO₂.

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