Marco Waas

As we in the chemical sector know: Carbon is and will remain at the heart of processes towards climate neutrality and circularity. That's why some European governments (e.g. Czech, Dutch, French, Irish) have proposed a European Sustainable Carbon Policy Package as a step towards efficient carbon management in the sector. The package advocates for a sustainable carbon availability strategy and calls to limit the regulatory load for the industry by creating policy consistency and coherency with climate and product policies. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/enMEwP4Y

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The next speaker we want to introduce is Dr. Raoul Meys. As managing director and co-founder of Carbon Minds, Meys focuses on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint analysis to evaluate and minimize the environmental impacts of chemical products and processes. He integrates sustainability into chemical engineering and promotes circular economy principles, aiming to reduce plastic production impacts and implement sustainable practices. His research contributions are widely published and reflect his dedication to advancing sustainable development in the chemical sector. We look forward to his talk on “Achieving net-zero chemicals and plastics with circular technologies - The role of electrochemistry.”

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We have recently launched a new project: 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟰.𝟬. Together with our partners Nouryon, Kraton Corporation, SCGC - SCG Chemicals, EKI, Energy-IO, Radboud University, Universiteit Maastricht, we are excited to take the next step in revolutionizing smart formulation in mechanical plastic recycling to close the circular value chain.    Why PlastiCycle 4.0? 🌐: - There is still a lack of understanding how to convert sorted plastic waste into marketable, high-quality recycled plastic via mechanical recycling - This lack leads to an imbalance between supply and demand - Large producers of materials and end products, looking for quick solutions, often prefer (thermo-)chemical recycling over mechanical methods   This project aims to change that. How? With PlastiCycle 4.0, we aim to explore new potential of quality-based recycling via leading edge technologies in analytics, physical processing, chemical interaction and stability, and digitalization. By using advanced sensing, processing, and digital technologies we want to improve plastic circularity for Dutch industries. ♻️   Learn more on our project page 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/gW5Jn_Hz #modelling #MechanicalRecycling #additives #AI

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💡 Business model innovation in circular start-ups: Overcoming barriers in the circular plastics economy ♻️ Circular start-ups are crucial for implementing a circular economy; yet, little research has been undertaken on the specific barriers they face. Through a case study of CSUs in the Dutch plastics industry, this article identifies several key barriers encompassing technology dependence, poor credibility, constrained resources, collaboration challenges, lack of knowledge and inadequate institutional support. 📝 Read the paper by Fernando Lit, Josephina Huijben, Myriam Erckens-Cloodt, and Erik Paredis to find out more! https://lnkd.in/duqdHHep #businessmodelinnovation #circularstartups #circulareconomy

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🔋⚡ The Economic Challenges of Green Hydrogen Production ⚡🔋 A new study conducted by TNO on behalf of the Dutch government provides some rather discouraging numbers regarding green hydrogen. Let's take a look at them together: 1. As of today, the levelized cost of green hydrogen production in the Netherlands would be €13.7/kg (with a lower bound of €9/kg and an upper bound of €21/kg), compared to €1-2/kg for hydrogen obtained from methane gas through steam reforming. 2. Of these €13.7/kg, about €5 are capital costs. Only 30% of these costs are due to the cost of electrolyzers, so even if the price of electrolyzers were to drop with mass production, it would have little impact on the capital cost (if the cost of electrolyzers were halved, the capital costs of green hydrogen would still be €4.2/kg). The rest of the capital cost is due to compressors, plant balancing systems, and interest rates. 3. The remaining €8.7/kg is due to the price of electricity (€5 for purchasing electricity €2 for connection costs additional grid costs). The assumption behind these numbers is that green electricity is purchased through fixed-price supply contracts at €70-80/MWh, an amount in line with current European PPAs. The incentives needed for hydrogen production plants to compete with steam reforming would then amount to €3300/kW, compared to the previous (already very high) estimate of €2200/kW. Consider that the amount of excess power in the Netherlands is on the order of GW, sometimes tens of GW, and do the math yourself. Where exactly are we headed with these numbers? If hydrogen is not economically competitive, no industry will be incentivized to use it to decarbonize its hard-to-abate processes (no wonder KLM or Tata Still are not signing take-off agreements). 💡 The fans of nuclear solutions suggest VHTR reactors will provide a more efficient way of producing hydrogen, from thermal process. These prototypes are designed for specific uses in hard-to-abate industries, not for large scale production. 💡In 2023 TNO highlighted the importance of working on electrolyzers of 2nd and 3rd generation, possibly with radically new designs, to abate costs and increase efficiencies. We need to move the field forward. Link: https://lnkd.in/dCex3Hba Today, 99% of the hydrogen produced in the world is made from methane: given the numbers mentioned above, this is not going to change in the short term. Further fueling this bubble only serves to enrich gas companies. 📰 Full report: https://lnkd.in/dAWwXAJd 📸 Picture: AI-generated by Canva

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♻️To advance circularity across the chemical industry and beyond, we need to move from "value chains" to "value circles"! ⭕ Big THANK YOU🙏 to all our speakers and listeners to yesterday's podcast on "The Strategic Role of the Chemical Industry in Enabling a Circular Economy" 📢 We heard from: 🎤 Fiona van den Brink from LyondellBasell 🎤Todd Cline from Procter & Gamble 🎤 Peter miller from Eastman  🎤Charlie Tan from Global Impact Coalition 🎤Nicole Smith Ray from EY A few highlights of the discussion included: - Collaboration Across the Ecosystem: Cross-industry collaboration among large corporations, start-ups, and industry players is needed to drive a circular economy, focusing on a holistic “value circle” approach. - Role of Offtake in Scaling Innovations: Large corporations can support start-ups through consistent offtake agreements to help scale new recycling technologies. -  Clarity on Collaboration Scope: Companies should define clear boundaries on what areas they are open to collaborating in versus what areas they should manage internally to ensure focused progress. - Leveraging Advanced Technologies: AI, advanced sorting, electrification, and chemical recycling technologies could play significant roles in improving the efficiency of recycling systems. -  Biotechnology and CO2 Utilization: Biotechnology and CO2 utilization technologies can play a major role in creating sustainable materials, though the chemical industry is still exploring how to integrate these effectively. The Global Impact Coalition is working with companies across the chemical sector and related industries to advance circular solutions to address some of these challenges and uncover new opportunities. Reach out to get involved! https://lnkd.in/gVvy8SQ2 #ChemicalIndustry #CircularEconomy #Webinar #Sustainability

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An extremely important development this- chemical recycling of PVC. A seemingly 'difficult to recycle plastic' due to the presence of plasticisers which are potentially carcinogenic. PVC is one of the most important thermoplastics, especially for developing economies like ours. It is imperative for us to accelerate investments towards such technologies in India as well to ensure a full proof plastic circularity in the long run.

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Shell pulls back from commitment to develop chemical recycling of plastic waste! In its 2023 sustainability report, published in March, Shell is stating that: “In 2023 we concluded that the scale of our ambition to turn 1m tonnes of plastic waste a year into pyrolysis oil by 2025 is unfeasible.” The report justifies this step back from the previous commitment to develop due to changing market conditions: “While Shell sees customer demand for circular chemicals, the pace of growth globally is less than expected due to lack of available feedstock, slow technology development and regulatory uncertainty.” On its website, Shell advocates for chemical recycling (photo) with the following statement: “Chemical recycling through pyrolysis, where hard-to-recycle plastic waste like snack bags, ready meals, or plastic film, that are not suitable for mechanical recycling, are turned into pyrolysis oil, a liquid that replaces hydrocarbons to produce circular chemicals.” Shell has started its strategy to build up chemical recycling capaciities by signing a strategic supply agreement with Nexus Fuels (now Nexus Circular) back in 2019. Nexus operates a 'pilot' Nexus Pyrolysis plant with a rated capacity of 50 tonnes per day at its production site in Atlanta . Since that date, Shell has successively invested in Dutch company BlueAlp, signed pyrolysis oil supply agreements with Pryme, another Dutch company, and with Finnish company Lamor in Europe, with Environmental Solutions Asia in Singapore, and with Freepoint Eco-Systems in the U.S.A., invested in two pyrolysis oil upgraders at its Mordijk site in The Netherlands  and signed a LOU with Dialog Group Berhad in Malaysia and a MOU with the European branch of Agilyx in Norway for the development of chemical recycling plants. Link to original news with al hyperlinked details will be posted in the comments. #chemicalrecycling #advancedrecycling #molecularrecycling #mechanicalrecycling #plasticwaste #pyoil #pyrolysisoil #plasticspyoil

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Great news and seems to be complementary to the developments in the TexPower project - https://ap.lc/VffdE - as granted by Circular Plastics NL. In a Dutch based consortium, we work on the recycling of #polycotton (a blend of polyester and cotton) textiles, the most dominantly used composition in the current clothing industry. #Mechanicalrecycling will be applied where possible. Where this is not feasible, #chemicalrecycling will be used. I expect we will encounter similar challenges as CARBIOS and TOMRA Recycling will. Such as removal of specific contaminants (elastane, nylon, acrylic, PFAS, etc.) that interfere with the (bio)recycling technologies. Vibeke Siljan Krohn, Mathieu Berthoud CPI - Circular Plastics Initiative

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Wrap up of the Circular Plastics Conference 2024 by professor Jeroen Jansen and professor Sascha Kersten. Main takeaways from the conference: - more realism - feedstock quality - do we learn from the past? - we can put men on the moon! - too many abbreviations! - 2050 plans in relation to decreasing role of the EU (EU 4% of global plastics volume mid century) - regulations complexity Topic of the next edition of the conference: “What plastics/polymers should be prioritized to commercialize recycling and meet our ambitions in time?” ISPT - Institute for Sustainable Process Technology DPI - Shaping polymer innovation #circular #plastics #feedstocktransition #innovation #realism #complexity #regulation #closingtheloop #eugreendeal #industrialtransformation #science #technology

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At the recent World Circular Economy Forum 2024 (WCEF2024), the Netherlands, France, the Czech Republic and Ireland called for a European policy package on sustainable carbon in the chemical industry. "The joint statement calls for a comprehensive European policy framework to transition from fossil to sustainable carbon feedstocks, including a sustainable carbon availability strategy. This, according to the statement, is crucial for maintaining the long-term competitiveness of the European chemical industry in a climate-neutral and circular economy, spanning from upstream commodities to end-user products." Cefic were in attendance during a panel discussion to share the chemical industry's support for Europe to encourage the uptake of sustainable carbon sources. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ezHgUBZM

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Last week, we set up a joint development digital lab in allchemist.net, where a supplier and their customer are collaborating to optimize paints and coatings formulations. What makes this impressive? It only took a few hours. 🕒   The project lead created an account in Allchemist, invited others to join the workgroup, and transferred around 500 raw materials into a shared database. From there, the project lead shared formulations and specific raw materials. Now, both teams are working together, in the same digital space 🌐, to optimize formulations for better performance and lower costs. 📊   Why does this matter? Because this is how business should be done in 2024. Companies need to work with data, not waste time juggling documents, emails, and phone calls. 📨📞   At the end of this process, the formulator (the customer) will have all questions answered, and the updated products can be evaluated in the lab. Once confirmed, all compliance documents and labels will be generated, and products will be ready for shipment 🚚. Their ERP and CMS will update automatically—without needing to open or transcribe a single SDS, TDS, or PDF file.   The solution exists—it’s outdated practices holding you back. 🚀   P.S. This is a far more effective and efficient approach than any e-commerce catalog: you help your existing customers optimize specific formulations with your specific raw materials. It's like being in the same lab with your customers when they are developing new formulations. BENS Consulting, Chemius #DigitalTransformation #ChemicalIndustry #DataDriven #Allchemist #Innovation #Collaboration #PaintsAndCoatings #ProductOptimization #Compliance #ERP #CMS #Chemius

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🎤 Next week, Kyoto’s Business Support Associate Elena Davydova will be speaking at the MVO Nederland Webinar on Thermal heat storage This webinar will discuss the potential of thermal heat storage within the Oils and Fats Industry and how to decarbonize production, where Kyoto will present on the potential of Heatcube within the sector. 📆 Members of MVO, make sure to join the webinar on October 10th, at 13:30 CET, for an interesting discussion on thermal heat storage techniques and application in the MVO industry. #ThermalBattery #ThermalStorage #Heatcube #IndustrialDecarbonization

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