12
July
2021
|
12:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Cycle for sustainable plastics

Second project phase of Carbon2Polymers

Summary
  • Carbon-containing gases from steel production as a source of raw materials
  • Covestro starts up mini-plant for conversion in Dormagen, Germany
  • Close cooperation with partners from industry and science

On the path to climate neutrality, the development of new raw material sources is of central importance. The Carbon2Chem project is investigating, among other things, where cross-sector networking between the steel and chemical industries is possible. The German government is funding the project until 2024. Covestro is contributing its expertise to the Carbon2Polymers subproject.

The objective is to explore the use of carbon monoxide (CO) from steel industry metallurgical gases for the production of high-quality polycarbonates. Covestro has now commissioned a mini-plant for this purpose at its Dormagen site. This is where it is tested whether the quality of the CO from metallurgical gases is sufficient for further processing.

The innovative process has great sustainability potential: Initial life cycle analyses show that around 0.48 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent can be saved per kilogram of CO provided in the steel industry-chemical industry alliance. This means savings of more than 80 percent.

Industrial symbiosis as the key

The lighthouse project proves how important industrial symbiosis is on the path to climate-neutral production in Germany. Covestro has been working closely with thyssenkrupp since 2016. RWTH Aachen University and the Max Planck Institute Mühlheim are also involved in the project. Among other things, they do life-cycle analyses for the processes and test and develop new catalysts.

Dr. Stefanie Eiden heads the Carbon2Polymers subproject at Covestro. She is confident that the knowledge gained could also be helpful for other research projects: “Coke oven gases have the advantage that they bring with them many accompanying substances. If we succeed in processing the CO in such a way that we can use it to produce our high-performance plastics, we can also do the same with other non-fossil-based CO sources.” By the end of the year, it will be evaluated whether the innovative process is economically and ecologically viable.

Setting the course for a climate-neutral circular economy

Dr. Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro, sees the Carbon2Polymers project as a further milestone in the development of a global circular economy: “We can only succeed in the fight against climate change if we enter into profitable cooperations. The collaboration with thyssenkrupp illustrates once again the enormous contribution industry can make on the path to greenhouse gas-neutral production. By using coke oven gases, we are further advancing the repeated use of raw materials and thus closing the cycle.”

The industry is receiving support from politicians: the German government is funding the Carbon2Chem project with an additional 75 million euros until 2024. In this way, around 20 million tons of the steel industry’s annual CO₂ emissions in Germany are to be made economically viable in the long term.

Boilerplate

About Covestro:

With 2020 sales of EUR 10.7 billion, Covestro is among the world’s leading polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative, sustainable solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. In doing so, Covestro is fully committed to the circular economy. The main industries served are the automotive and transportation industries, construction, furniture and wood processing, as well as electrical, electronics, and household appliances industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. At the end of 2020, Covestro has 33 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.