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(AGENPARL) – mer 29 novembre 2023 We are pleased to announce that the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic)
selected Elkem as one of 26 companies and national associations to feature in
its 2023 European Responsible Care® Awards
Gallery (https://cefic.org/responsible-care/2023-european-responsible-care
-awards/?utm_campaign=Responsible_Care-Members&utm_source=Members-Com
-Channels&utm_medium=post-organic&utm_content=News—Responsible-Care-Award-2023
-is-out&utm_term=Europe_cefic_Members___Responsible_Care___post-organic_News–
-Responsible-Care-Award-2023-is-out_15%2F11%2F2028&outcome=6284). Elkem’s
collaborative Resourcing Silicones Polymers (REPOS) project was the only
initiative that received commendation in the category of Circularity. It is
aimed at developing eco-designed depolymerization chemistry to reduce silicone
waste (https://cefic.org/responsible-care/2023-european-responsible-care
-awards/repos-innovative-depolymerization-technology-for-silicones). The
innovative depolymerization process can be conducted at ambient pressures and
low temperatures, which enables a circular lifecycle and lower environmental
footprint for silicone-based polymers and oils created from post-industrial and
post-consumer waste.
Innovation for such a sweeping change to the silicones value chain will require
collaboration, with implications for industrial, customer and consumer users of
silicones. Its success will help meet societal expectations for circularity as
well as industry and regulatory objectives to increase the recycled content of
products. Aside from a growing need to develop a more circular end of life
management of silicone waste such a recycled silicone can reduce the carbon
footprint by 60 to 70% compared to traditional linear process. Elkem is
partnering with two labs of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
(CNRS): Catalysis, Polymerization, Process and Materials (CP2M) and Ingénierie
des Matériaux Polymères (IMP), as well as two specialized local companies:
Activation, Processium, on the project, along with the Axelera competitiveness
cluster.
“While end-of-life silicone recovery at a massive scale is not yet achieved we
believe, as part of our company commitment to shaping a more sustainable future,
that Elkem must invest in innovation that develops a holistic approach to the
principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle for our products and our customers who
use them,” said Sean Duffy, VP sustainability. “Our collaborative research
through project REPOS seeks to create a flexible, selective, and efficient
process to harvest the value of silicone waste and enable development of a
service offering that will become a “must have” in years to come.”
Reflective of Elkem’s three-pillar strategic climate
reduce process emissions, support the Green Transition and develop circular
economies using eco-design approaches, there are two distinct recycling loops
that are in-scope for project REPOS:
1. Monomer Production Loop – to depolymerize waste silicone products to create
silicone monomers that can seamlessly integrate back into the manufacturing
process.
2. Added-Value Product Loop – to transform remaining oligomers not suitable for
monomer use into innovative, high-value products.
The three-year collaborative project unites the relevant stakeholders in the
LPSE (Lyon Polymer Science and Engineering) consortium, and is supported by BPI
France and Region Auvergne Rhone Alpes, combining forces for the required
diverse expertise. The 2023 Responsible Care® award recognizes the rigorous
development efforts required to successfully demonstrate the technical
feasibility of depolymerizing various silicone waste streams at low
temperatures. Key achievements include:
· Submission of three patent applications for different catalytic
depolymerization chemistries.
· Publications on depolymerization chemistry enabling reversion to D4 (cyclic
methyl siloxane) monomer.
· Integration of new technologies within Elkem and the start of pilot trials
for chemically recycled oils at Elkem Silicones site in Saint-Fons, France.
The next phase of REPOS will focus on piloting and scaling up these new
technologies for industrialization.
“The need to transition is at its most urgent, and the obstacles have never been
greater. The initiatives exhibited in this year’s Responsible Care Awards show
industry’s united front and the absolute will to transform. Congratulations to
all; companies and associations, large and small organisations, from all over
Europe. We need leaders like these, paving the way and inspiring others on the
journey.” said Marco Mensink, Director General, Cefic.
Transitioning to climate neutral while staying globally competitive represents
one of the biggest challenges the European chemicals industry has ever faced.
Elkem is serious about doing its part to make that transition possible and
expedient.
For more information, please view the Cefic description of project
REPOS (https://cefic.org/responsible-care/2023-european-responsible-care
-awards/repos-innovative-depolymerization-technology-for-silicones) or contact
us :
Wendy Cots
About Elkem ASA
Elkem is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced silicon-based
materials shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops
silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw
materials, renewable energy and human ingenuity. Elkem helps its customers
create and improve essential innovations like electric mobility, digital
communications, health and personal care as well as smarter and more sustainable
cities. With a strong track record since 1904, its global team of more than
7,300 people has a joint commitment to stakeholders: Delivering your potential.
In 2022, Elkem achieved an operating income of NOK 45.9 billion and CDP ratings
of A- on climate and forest. Elkem is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker:
ELK), where the company is also included in the ESG Index. http://www.elkem.com
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Elkem Silicon, 21 avenue Georges Pompidou, Lyon, 69003 France
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Elkem Silicon, 21 avenue Georges Pompidou, Lyon, 69003 France