Planet under Pressure

Enabling a Circular
Plastics Economy
One of the biggest environmental threats of our time is plastic waste. Governments across
the globe must take immediate action to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling levels.
Industry partners along the value chain as well as consumers will need to change their
behaviors and established paths, primarily concerning packaging. Clariant’s answer to these
challenges is EcoCircle, a circular plastics economy initiative.
By Dr. Bettina Siggelkow, Clariant
There is no doubt that we enjoy the
benefits of plastic every day – not only in
packaging, for example for food preservation.
However, we are constantly facing
the consequences of improperly
handled plastic waste, which is polluting
our environment and damaging flora
and fauna across the globe. It is therefore
necessary to act now to dramatically
reduce plastic waste and to start
seeing it as a raw material source for
new products. At Clariant, the circular
economy is a central element of our
sustainability strategy. We are convinced
that only through the close collaboration
of industry partners across the value
chain can a circular plastics economy
be realized. Sustainable results for a
circular economy require that products
are considered cost-efficient, not only
for direct application, but also when it
comes to their purpose along the circular
value chain. This opens up a new dimension,
offering potential for product and
business model innovations.
EcoCircle – A Circular Plastics
Economy Initiative
A key aspect of collaborating to achieve a
circular plastics economy is the outreach
of industry partners to all players along
the value chain. This includes brand
owners, polymer producers, designers,
retailers, sorters, recyclers, and converters
– partners that, so far, have only had
limited direct interaction. These types of
cooperation are more complex, not only
due to the amount of project partners,
but also due to the different positions
within the value chains and there being
significant differences in legal frameworks,
specifications, and culture. This
often makes communication across the
new circular value chain challenging.
For a successful transformation toward a
circular value chain, it will be key to overcome
the gap and create a framework
to allow for joint project management.
Clariant has developed competencies to
effectively orchestrate the approach and
foster projects along the value chain to
drive successful product development
for a new circular value chain.
To help facilitate innovation and cocreation,
Clariant is setting up Centers of
Excellence. The integration of the knowl-
That is why Clariant created the Eco-
Circle initiative to address these challenges
and support the development of
a circular plastics economy. It combines
four key elements: collaboration across
the value chain, co-creation, technology,
and distinction.
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Global Goals Yearbook 2020