1. Can you give us an update on the development of Covestro's chemolysis chemical recycling process for polycarbonate?
Covestro has made significant progress in developing a chemical recycling process for polycarbonates, particularly those used in high-performance applications like car headlights. This advancement marks a crucial step towards Covestro's vision of a fully circular economy for plastics. The new process converts polycarbonates back into their foundational monomers, which can then be used as alternative raw materials. This approach reduces waste and resource depletion while maintaining material quality. Covestro has initiated the technical implementation of this process on a pilot scale, with the long-term goal of scaling up to industrial application. This achievement expands Covestro's portfolio of recycling solutions and demonstrates their commitment to creating a circular economy where plastics are reclaimed and recycled efficiently.
2. Covestro inaugurated the world's first pilot plant to produce bio-based aniline in February last year. How has demand for this product evolved since then?
Also, in developing bio-based aniline, which is a key component in many chemical products, we have made progress. The pilot plant for bio-based aniline production, inaugurated last year, represents a major milestone in Covestro's journey towards sustainable innovation. While specific demand figures are not provided, the development of this technology is seen as a crucial step towards a circular economy in the chemical industry.
The new process allows Covestro to produce aniline entirely from renewable raw materials, instead of crude oil. This bio-based aniline is expected to have a significantly better carbon footprint compared to conventionally produced aniline. Covestro is now working on upscaling this technology, which indicates growing interest and potential demand for more sustainable chemical intermediates.
3. How is Covestro's 'design for recycling' concept influencing your research and development efforts?
Covestro's 'design for recycling' concept is playing a crucial role in shaping the company's research and development efforts. This approach is part of Covestro's broader strategy to become fully circular. The concept influences R&D in several ways; examples include:
Leveraging the fact that our products – other than e.g., polyolefins – contain natural “breaking points” which help us to efficiently recover the originally used monomers after the products end of life efficiently with advanced recycling technologies.
Product design: Covestro is collaborating with customers to develop products that are easier to recycle, such as mono material headlamps
It is important to emphasise that we look holistically at the entire product life cycle within our R&D efforts. This means that we also strive for continuously improving the properties of our high-performance materials during their usage, e.g., in terms of reducing weight or improving insulation properties.
4. What are the consequences of ADNOC's purchase of Covestro for your sustainability strategy?
We will continue to pursue our sustainability strategy as before. This will not change, and we have the full support of XRG, former ADNOC International. To give a bit more background: Covestro and XRG have agreed on a long-term strategic partnership. The basis for this partnership is the Investment Agreement signed on October 1, 2024, which runs until the end of 2028. In the Investment Agreement, both companies have agreed on the main cornerstones of the partnership. XRG has assured Covestro in the offer document of its full support for the further execution of its “Sustainable Future” strategy. Within this strategy, one chapter focusses on becoming climate neutral and fully circular.
5. If you had to pick one sustainability trend that will drop off the agenda by 2030, what would it be?
It would be inappropriate to suggest that any current sustainability trend will become irrelevant by 2030. Instead, I would emphasise that sustainability is an evolving field, and trends are likely to transform rather than disappear entirely.
However, if pressed to identify a trend that might shift significantly, one possibility could be the focus on individual product sustainability metrics in isolation. By 2030, we anticipate a more holistic approach to sustainability that considers entire value chains and life cycles. Instead of focusing solely on, for example, the carbon footprint of a single product, the emphasis may shift towards assessing the overall impact of integrated systems and circular solutions.
This evolution doesn't mean that individual product sustainability will become unimportant, but rather that it will be increasingly viewed within the context of broader, systemic sustainability goals. Covestro's approach, which already considers the entire value chain from raw material sourcing to end-of-life solutions, aligns with this forward-looking perspective on sustainability.