BASF highlights progress in enabling plastics circularity at Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2022

• High-performance solutions target three key stages of the mechanical recycling process: sorting, washing and reprocessing
• BASF at Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2022:  D21, Hall 12, RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ludwigshafen, Germany – May 31, 2022 – BASF will present high-performance solutions that target the three key stages of the mechanical recycling process for plastics at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands (booth D21) from June 22 to 23. State-of-the-art technology and products to identify the grade of plastic, to improve efficiencies in the cleaning processes for recycling, and to boost the quality of recycled polymeric materials will be featured. BASF’s Plastic Additives business unit has combined its technical competence with that of BASF subsidiaries trinamiX and Chemetall to deliver highly innovative solutions for plastic recyclers.

Together, these businesses have the goal to drive innovations with leading-edge technologies and customer collaborations. BASF will also present a technical paper at the conference during the trade fair on “Advancing recycled polymers to survive multiple loops” which explains how additives solutions are contributing to the circularity of plastics.

Sorting made easy with trinamiX

With its Mobile Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Solution, trinamiX enables swift on-the-spot plastic identification. At the push of a button, a broad range of plastic types can be rapidly identified using an easy-to-use handheld solution that combines patented NIR detectors, sophisticated data analysis and a user-friendly mobile app. In this way, trinamiX helps customers to sort plastic waste, enhancing the sorting quality and increasing the value of recyclates.

While trinamiX helps collectors and recyclers, its solution also enables brand owners to design their products and packaging to be more easily sortable from the start. Since the technology built into trinamiX’s handheld device is also used in-line to sort plastic waste at large recycling facilities, designers can quickly simulate their product’s journey through such facilities to ensure recyclability. In doing so, trinamiX is contributing to a new generation of plastic products that are designed for circularity.

Sustainable cleaning process for recycling plastic waste

The Surface Treatment global business unit in BASF’s Coatings division, which operates under the Chemetall brand, is a leading supplier of applied surface treatment technologies for metal, plastic, and glass substrates. For the plastic recycling industry, Chemetall has developed solutions to process polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with efficient cleaners and defoamers, saving water and material. PET flakes processed with Chemetall technologies meet the strictest quality regulations and are compatible with the requirements of the food industry. The products Gardoclean^®, Gardobond^® additive, Gardo^®Pure, and Gardofloc^® offer the highest standards for exceptional results in washing and wastewater treatment – including savings in energy consumption, wastewater, and overall process costs compared to traditional processes.

Additives that improve properties of mechanically recycled plastics

The repeated use and processing of recyclates often damages the polymer chains, and the plastic becomes brittle or discolored. Impurities and polymer contaminants in recycled plastics accelerate polymer degradation, which changes the material properties. The IrgaCycle™ range of additive solutions have been designed to address specific quality issues associated with recycled resins such as limited processability, poor long-term thermal stability and insufficient protection against outdoor weathering. Recyclers and plastic converters can benefit from the IrgaCycle range to tackle quality and performance issues while processing recycled polymeric material and to increase the percentage of recycled content in end-use applications such as packaging, automotive as well as building and construction. The IrgaCycle range is offered as part of the VALERAS™ portfolio, the brand name under which BASF markets its range of sustainable plastic additive solutions.
 

About BASF Plastic Additives

BASF is a leading supplier, manufacturer, and innovation partner of plastic additives. Its comprehensive and innovative product portfolio includes additives which provide ease in processing, heat and light resistance to a variety of polymers and applications including molded articles, films, fibers, sheets and extruded profiles. The portfolio is constantly analyzed, assessed and actively improved towards solutions which make a larger contribution to sustainability. More information about plastic additives: www.plasticadditives.basf.com.

The Plastic Additives business unit is part of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division. The division’s portfolio also includes fuel and lubricant solutions, kaolin minerals, as well as oilfield chemicals and mining solutions. Customers from a variety of industries including Chemicals, Plastics, Consumer Goods, Energy & Resources and Automotive & Transportation benefit from our innovative solutions. To learn more, visit www.performancechemicals.basf.com

About BASF’s Coatings division

The Coatings division of BASF is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings, decorative paints as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. The portfolio is completed by the “Innovation Beyond Paint” program which aims at developing new markets and businesses. We create advanced performance solutions and drive performance, design and new applications to meet our partners’ needs all over the world. BASF shares skills, knowledge and resources of interdisciplinary and global teams for the benefit of customers by operating a collaborative network of sites in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. In 2020, the Coatings division achieved global sales of about €3.1 billion.

Solutions beyond your imagination – Coatings by BASF. For more information about the Coatings division of BASF and its products, visit www.basf-coatings.com.

About trinamiX

trinamiX GmbH develops cutting-edge biometric and mobile NIR spectroscopy solutions, which are used in both consumer electronics and industrial designs. The company’s products enable humans and machines to better capture data with the goal of understanding the world around us. This results in improved decision making as well as stronger biometric security. trinamiX, based in Ludwigshafen (Germany), was founded in 2015 as a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF SE. The company employs over 200 people worldwide and holds more than 300 patents and patent applications. For further information visit trinamiXsensing.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.