The plastics manufacturer is investing in a closed-loop recycling center in Lich, near Giessen.
 

The new recycling center of LyondellBasell (LYB) is designed to convert plastic waste from durable goods such as cars and household appliances into high-quality raw materials for sophisticated materials in a closed loop. This is said to represent a significant advance in waste treatment capacity for such waste. LYB wants to use it to support the circular economy and help achieve sustainability goals in the industry, according to a statement. The expertise of a university that is said to support the process and the applied analytics, a service provider, and a dedicated LYB team would come together in Lich. The requirements for recycling consumer goods at the end of their service life were complex. The materials would have to be stripped of paint, metal and other additives to obtain a plastic that is suitable as a high-quality starting material. The recycling center is to use mechanical recycling to convert end-of-life plastics from the automotive industry, such as bumpers and trims, and the appliance industry into high-quality recycled materials for LYB's CirculenRecover product range. These in turn would be used as more sustainable solutions for applications in the automotive and appliance industries, including structural parts, interior components and visible applications. The recycling center is expected to reach commercial scale in the fourth quarter of 2024.
 
Sources:

• Press release LyondellBasell (10.9.2024)
• Photo: © LyondellBasell / Oliver Ruether