Evonik and Oerlikon Team Up to Promote Chemical Recycling of PET Waste

Evonik and Oerlikon Barmag have announced a collaboration to promote the chemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste. Both companies are committed to developing robust and efficient process technologies for depolymerization and purification, as well as integrated concepts for repolymerization and the associated EPC business model.

Oerlikon plans to implement the complete solution by the end of the decade and involve further partners in 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 collaboration marks a major step forward for the chemical recycling of PET. Our new catalytic process and chemical technology will complement current mechanical recycling methods, making it possible to recover high PET contents from heavily contaminated and mixed PET waste that would otherwise go to incineration or landfill. In this way, we are actively supporting a sustainable circular economy," said Max Preisenberger, Head of Catalysts at Evonik.

"We are convinced that with Evonik we have gained a strong and experienced partner in the specialty chemicals sector and that together we will establish a significant market position in the growth market for chemical recycling of PET as a total solutions provider while also driving the next generation of sustainability in the plastics industry," said Georg Stausberg, CEO of Oerlikon Manmade Fiber Solutions.

The partners plan to fully launch and commercialize the jointly developed chemical recycling technology solution by the end of the decade. There is a plan to deeply and actively involve other companies within the ecosystem, including feedstock, technology and production, and to establish a global network of development partners.