Chemical recycling plays a 'pivotal role' in achieving circularity

Jun 23, 2023

Mark Schmets and Jacqueline Vaessen, in the centre, display the new brochure.

Last week, at the Chemistry NL Summit on 21 Aug. 2023 in The Hague, a new publication on chemical recycling - and the relevance of this technology to achieving circularity for plastics - had its international launch.

The publication is an initiative of Holland Circular Hotspot, a private-public platform established to stimulate entrepreneurship in the field of circular economy, supported by a number of partners, including the Circular Biobased Delta, Chemelot Circular Hub, Chemport Europe, TNO, TKI Chemistry and Circularity, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and Infinity Recycling.

It accentuates the ‘pivotal role’ of chemical recycling in driving the transition towards a circular and carbon-neutral chemical industry and aims to stimulate discussion and to inspire regulatory authorities, the knowledge community, entrepreneurs, and investors to work together to arrive at ‘sensible’ chemical recycling models, according to its compilers.

The brochure explores a variety of aspects, ranging from business development and innovation, financing, environmental aspects and the policy dimension of chemical recycling. It moreover presents more than 20 best practices from the Netherlands demonstrating the tangible and transformative impact of chemical recycling. Toolboxes and strategic approaches are included, providing blueprints for implementing effective and sustainable chemical recycling initiatives.

“The brochure … underscores the importance of effective recycling, circular solutions and renewable approaches in the feedstock transition,” said Willem Sederel, chair of the Circular Biobased Delta at the international launch in The Hague.

"There is a magic momentum in North Western Europe, but in order to scale to the size of the chemical industry the feedstock transition deserves as much attention and commitment as the energy and hydrogen transition,” added Freek van Eijk, CEO Holland Circular Hotspot.The brochure was presented to Mark Schmets, team lead Chemistry, Circularity and International of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and Jacqueline Vaessen, chair of the Dutch Chemistry Top Sector.

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