Germany-based polycarbonate manufacturer Covestro has started operating a new compounding line in Shanghai. It is the company’s first dedicated mechanical recycling compounding line for polycarbonates in China.
The new line is set to produce over 25,000 tons of polycarbonates and blends containing mechanically recycled materials annually, in response to the growing demand for post-consumer-recycled (PCR) plastics, particularly in applications within the electrical and electronic products, automotive, and consumer goods sectors.
Covestro plans to supply over 60,000 tons of recycled-content polycarbonates annually in the Asia Pacific region by 2026, in response to robust market demand. Recently, the company also transformed an existing compounding line at its Map Ta Phut site in Thailand for mechanically recycled polycarbonate. The move is part of a programme to expand capacity in the region, which also includes the addition of new production lines at sites in Guangzhou, China, as well as Greater Noida, India. The combined additional capacity now exceeds 100,000 metric tons annually.
"These investments enable us to meet the rising demand for PCR polycarbonates, enhancing our capacity and efficiency. With new or repurposed capacity now operational, we are better positioned to assist our downstream customers in their journey towards more sustainable products, expediting the transformation of industries towards a circular and climate-neutral future," said Lily Wang, head of Covestro’s business entity engineering plastics.
This April Covestro launched a new polycarbonate grade containing 90% recyclate derived from post-consumer waste. The carbon footprint of the new Makrolon grade is claimed to be 70% lower than that of a comparable fossil-based virgin plastic, the company said. The new grade, part of Covestro’s CQ portfolio of circular solutions, is initially available only in the Asia-Pacific region.