23-01-2025

Evonik and Oerlikon Barmag to promote chemical recycling of PET waste

Evonik and Oerlikon Barmag have announced their cooperation to promote chemical recycling of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste. Both companies are committed to develop technologies for robust and efficient depolymerisation and purification processes, coupled with an integrated concept for repolymerisation and the associated EPC business models.

Oerlikon plans to implement the full solution by the end of this decade, with the involvement of additional partners for feedstock, technology, and production. The technology will be made available to third parties to help realize the growth potential of PET as a circular plastic without ecological or economic disadvantages.

“This partnership marks a great step forward in the chemical recycling of PET. Our new catalytic processes and chemical technologies will complement the current mechanical recycling approach enabling high recycled PET content from heavily contaminated and mixed PET waste that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled. This way we are actively supporting a sustainable circular economy,” said Max Preisenberger, Head of Catalysts at Evonik.

“We are firmly convinced that with Evonik we gained a strong and experienced partner in the field of specialty chemicals, and together we will establish a significant market position as a total solution provider in the growth market for chemical recycling of PET, but also drive the next generation of sustainability within the plastics industry,” said Georg Stausberg, CEO of Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions.

The partners plan to fully launch and commercialize the jointly developed chemical recycling technology solution by the end of the current decade. The intensive involvement and active participation of other companies within the ecosystem (including feedstock, technology and production) and the establishment of a global development partner network are planned.

Seamless integration into PET production processes
The PET recycling technology will bring numerous advantages. From a chemical perspective it is a highly efficient process, and it can be seamlessly integrated into existing PET production processes. Operational costs, investment cost and scalability are the key drivers in the development.

The combination of cooperative know-how in catalyst and process technologies will enable the chemical recycling of polyester materials from various closed- and open-loop sources, which require chemical technology to achieve high, fossil-like recyclate qualities.