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The latest addition to LyondelBasell’s CirculenRecover product line is a polypropylene copolymer, PPC 2179N, which incorporates recovered end-of-life marine gear including fishing nets, and is made for injection molding. The product is a result of a collaboration with a German OEM and a specialized recycling company with expertise in mechanical recycling.

Traditionally, the automotive industry has only utilized recycled maritime plastic in the form of fibers for new vehicle components. However, with the introduction of CirculenRecover PPC TRC 2179N, this recyclate can now be used in injection molding. This opens up new possibilities for the application of recycled plastics. As part of this collaboration, end-of-life fishing nets are collected and meticulously sorted by type. They are then processed to create a  plastic recyclate. LyondellBasell takes this recyclate and compounds it with virgin compounds to produce the grade CirculenRecover PPC TRC 2179N.

The injection-molded components made from CirculenRecover PPC TRC 2179N are trim parts used in visible areas for the interior of various car models. This development, which will be used in big-scale production, enables enhanced sustainability and environmental responsibility in the automotive industry.

"Who would have thought that maritime gear can be one of the solutions to create more sustainable cars?” says Michael Büdinger, ´óÏó´«Ã½ development manager at LyondellBasell. “As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission is currently investigating measures to increase the circularity of vehicles, one of them being the use of up to 25% of postconsumer plastic waste. Maritime gear will support OEMs in reaching this goal.”

LyondelBasell has set a company goal of producing two million tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers annually by 2030. The broader Circulen product portfolio was announced in 2021, and eight previous CirculenRecover grades were announced in August 2023.