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BASF's new concept of circular economy

Company News > BASF's new concept of circular economy

· Scientists propose solutions at a digital research press conference

· BASF launches ambitious circular economy plan

电池、塑料、可再生原材料：巴斯夫循环经济的新理念

The goal of a circular economy is usually to avoid waste, reuse products and recycle resources. "Companies that can provide solutions for the transition to a circular economy will have a crucial competitive advantage." Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer of BASF, said when talking about the circular economy, a key social and political issue in the future. Therefore, BASF launched a new circular economy plan. By 2030, the company's goal is to double the sales generated by circular economy solutions to 17 billion euros. In order to achieve this goal, the company is focusing on three areas of action: recycled raw materials, new material recycling and new business models. By 2025, BASF's goal is to process 250,000 tons of renewable raw materials and waste raw materials each year to replace fossil raw materials. "The road to a circular economy requires us to make great efforts. But we have met this challenge with commitment and creativity, and we can build on the power of innovation," said Dr. Brudermüller. The chairman of the executive board and scientists introduced examples of BASF research at the first digital research press conference.

Battery recycling: closing the cycle of electric vehicles

According to experts, by 2030, more than 1.5 million tons of electric vehicle batteries will need to be processed. In addition, there are production wastes of batteries and cathode active materials and their precursors. These waste materials contain valuable resources such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. Through battery recycling, these raw materials can be recycled and reprocessed. In order to recycle lithium-ion batteries, they must first be disassembled and crushed to produce a substance called "black matter". Various chemical processes can be used to recover raw materials from the substantia nigra. Compared with mining from natural mineral deposits, the carbon footprint of battery metals is reduced by at least 25%.

However, until now, this process is very energy intensive and produces a large amount of salt that needs to be processed. In addition, the output of raw materials is still too low. BASF is developing a new and efficient chemical process with many advantages. It can recover high-purity lithium from the battery with high yield, it can prevent waste, and it can further reduce the carbon footprint compared with existing processes.

In this way, BASF supports the European Commission’s goal of establishing a sustainable European battery value chain. BASF's recycling process can play an important role in the establishment of a European battery recycling economy.

Additives to improve plastic recycling rate

The same is true for plastics, and BASF researchers are studying how to more effectively close the material cycle. According to a study by the consulting company Conversio, about 250 million tons of plastic waste is generated globally every year. Only about 20% of these plastics are recycled, thus maintaining material recycling. In mechanical recycling, waste plastics are crushed and melted to make recycled materials, which are then used to make new products. However, this material is not suitable for many applications without further processing. One of the reasons is that repeated use and processing often destroy the polymer chain, so that the plastic becomes brittle or yellow. Another reason is that plastic waste is usually mixed with different types of plastic and cannot be separated from each other. For example, beverage bottles are made of PET, while bottle caps are usually made of PP. This incompatible plastic mixture has a great negative impact on quality.

BASF researchers solve these problems by developing various plastic composite additives, specifically stabilizing and improving the quality of recycled materials. Solutions such as compatibilizers will enhance the mechanical properties of the polymer mixture. In this way, it is possible to upgrade machinery to recycle plastics and products made from them in the plastics cycle.

Plastic waste becomes a new raw material for the chemical industry

Every year, 200 million tons of plastic waste cannot be recycled worldwide. An important supplement to mechanical recycling is chemical recycling, which uses different methods to create a circular economy for plastics. Chemical recycling converts plastic waste into secondary raw materials, for example, through a thermochemical process called pyrolysis. The output of this process is pyrolysis oil, which can be used by the chemical industry to make new products. The advantage of this method is that it can also recycle mixed and unclean plastic waste streams. In addition, products made from pyrolysis oil are not much different from traditional products, so they can be used even in the most demanding applications. This means that for the first time in history, this plastic waste can be used to make car parts, medical equipment and even food packaging.

In order to advance this promising technology, BASF launched its ChemCyclingTM project in 2018. BASF researchers are working with partners to further develop and improve the process of producing pyrolysis oil from mixed plastic waste. The development of suitable catalysts for new process technologies is an important aspect in this regard. These catalysts are designed to ensure that even if the composition of plastic waste changes, high-purity pyrolysis oil can always be produced. The pyrolysis plant of BASF's Norwegian partner Quantafuel has integrated the first-generation catalyst. In order to carry out this development work, the scientists of the two companies used the expertise and high-throughput testing laboratory of BASF's subsidiary in Heidelberg, Germany, and the computing power of BASF's supercomputer.

Rambutan Project: Organic raw materials, sustainable sources

Renewable raw materials are another pillar of BASF's circular economy plan. BASF plans to further increase the amount of renewable raw materials from sustainable sources in its production. An example is the Rambutan Project, which obtains high-quality cosmetic active ingredients from plant parts that have not been used before. For customers in the cosmetics industry, BASF researchers are always looking for interesting active ingredients in nature, such as bark, leaves, roots, seeds and fruits. They study thousands of samples every year. This is how they realized the substance contained in the rambutan tree (a close relative of the lychee tree). BASF researchers discovered that a water extract extracted from tree leaves can activate various skin genes in the human body and promote collagen production. In addition, the active ingredients from the peel and seeds also have a positive effect, as they help increase skin moisture and activate hair roots. Therefore, BASF has found a way to use not only the juicy fruits, but also the peel, leaves and seeds to ensure that no part of the plant is wasted.

In order to sustainably obtain cosmetic ingredients through the Rambutan Program, BASF has established a socially and environmentally responsible supply chain with local partners in Vietnam, and launched two organically certified rambutan gardens in Vietnam. The first batch of cultivation work. The program enables workers to earn above-average income, while also providing medical insurance and safer working conditions. This means that this super fruit not only brings benefits to consumers, but also benefits to workers and the local environment.

previous：The first batch of commercial-grade bio-based nylon raw materials may be launched in the second half of 2021 next：Audi and KIT collaborate to recycle automotive plastics

BASF's new concept of circular economy

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