“The EU framework conditions have long since ceased to refer solely to packaging and now define clear recycling quotas for a wide range of products. For example, the European Ecodesign Regulation, which came into force on July 18, 2024. Its requirements are intended to ensure that products last longer, can be repaired and recycled and that they are manufactured more sustainably, i. e. in a way that saves energy and resources. The EU End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation (ELV) for all new vehicles and other special regulations for other product groups also pursue this objective.” Prof. Hans-Josef Endres opened the event with these words.
Peter Barlog then emphasized the importance of circular approaches for engineering plastics, as these generally have a higher ecological impact and also a higher commercial value.
Sustainability should become an EU standard and thus strengthen the competitiveness of companies that implement it, according to the initiators' basic idea. Michael Weigelt, TecPart - Verband Technische Kunststoff-Produkte e. V., does not entirely agree with this. “Current survey results show that the EU regulations are harming the plastics industry rather than helping it.” There is still a great need for politicians to formulate the respective regulations and directives more precisely and to make more sensible use of the political leeway. Nevertheless, Weigelt is not just pessimistic. In his opinion, the adaptation of the ELV draft has already eased the situation in the automotive industry somewhat and the new Clean Industrial Deal gives cause for hope.
In his presentation, Prof. Endres highlighted the technical potential for higher-quality mechanical recycling. Various approaches along the entire recycling value chain were presented.
This optimistic attitude was shared by most of the subsequent speakers at the forum. Dr. Rainer Lenzen, Miele & Cie. KG, first reported on the three key areas of action for a functioning circular economy: a) commitment from companies, b) consumer acceptance and c) sensible and clear regulations. As a family business, Miele strives to operate as sustainably as possible. In this context, Lenzen reports on a case study from the “white goods” sector that shows great potential for circular business models.
Hartmut Schoon from ENNEATECH AG presented test results from the mechanical recycling of polyamides (PA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with and without glass fibers from post-consumer and post-industrial waste. He reported on his own developments in process technology, which mean that the recyclate sometimes ha s better mechanical properties than virgin material.
The tension between ecology, economy and performance was Peter Barlog's main focus. Ecological material aspects are also becoming an increasingly important part of the property profile for technical plastics. In order to meet the legal requirements, i.e. to produce good, sustainable components that still compete on the market, companies today have to make compromises. Barlog has developed its own tool to estimate these compromises. With the “Eco Calculator”, the carbon footprint can be estimated in the early stages of product development”.
Dr. Patrick Glöckner, Evonik Operations GmbH, was also able to provide information on successful examples of a successful circular economy and presented recyclable components made of PA12 for car interiors in addition to various examples of recycling process aids or chemical approaches for removing printing inks.
Jens Kaatze from MOCOM Compounds GmbH & Co. KG shed light on the challenges that compounders face when they want to put the recyclate specifications of the legislator into practice. “Although quotas are prescribed for vehicles, compounders can only try to estimate which plastic recyclate the industry will order and in what quality. Ultimately, however, they are economically forced to ensure the right input flows as early as possible.”
In the final presentation by Carsten Niermann from Akro Plastic GmbH, approaches to reducing global warming potential were presented, such as biobased plastics, recycled or mass-balanced materials or recycled carbon fibers.
Despite increasing regulations and growing environmental requirements, the speakers at the wip forum highlighted promising prospects for today and the future.
“Carrying on as before no longer works and I am therefore delighted,” said Endres after the forum, ”that more and more different players in the plastics industry are taking matters into their own hands and looking for good solutions and promising alternatives. This is exactly how we can succeed in achieving the specified goals, as the promising contributions from the speakers showed.”
