The latest Brightsite Transition Outlook (BTO) has recently been published. In this fourth edition, the required transition to a circular chemical industry is approached as more than just a technological challenge. In this article, Céline Fellay (program manager System Transition at Brightsite) and Pim Piek (senior project manager Energy and Material Transition at TNO) discuss what is needed to get a circular plastics economy off the ground. “This BTO, published at a time when the future of the chemical industry in the Netherlands and Europe is at stake, aims to help clarify what needs to be done to create a sustainable future for the industry as part of our society,” says Céline Fellay.
“The chemical industry is the silent engine of our society. Chemistry is everywhere, in all kinds of products we use every day. A daily life without the building blocks that chemistry offers us is unthinkable. At the same time, the sector is under pressure. The transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy is very urgent and requires resolute choices and major investments. Without adequate action, part of the industry is at risk of leaving Europe, even asEurope strives to reduce its dependence on non-European countries for crucial raw materials,”explains Fellay.
How can we promote circularity?
Thanks to their beneficial properties, plastics have become an integral part of our society. Despite their benefits, it is essential to use plastics responsibly, given their environmental impact and dependence on fossil raw materials. In recent decades, a lot of progress has been made in recycling technology, among other things, but large-scale application of plastic recycling remains limited. Why is that?
“In this BTO, we ask why plastics circularity doesn’t emerge spontaneously within the current regulatory framework, despite the clear benefits of reduced import dependence and a smaller environmental footprint. We do this by first discussing the functioning of the linear economy and contrasting it with the benefits of a circular economy. We then analyze what hinders the implementation of circular solutions and what solutions are available to overcome these obstacles. Using the SCIARSTM model (Source, Commodity, Intermediate, Application, and ReSource) developed by Brightsite, we analyze the linear and circular plastics value chain, with a focus on carbon loss in the form of CO₂ emissions. We use polyamide 6 (PA6) as a representative example of plastics to show how detailed, quantitative maps of carbon flowsrelated to production, consumption and CO₂ emissions are obtained. We chose PA6 because it is a polymer used in a wide range of industries including automotive, electronics, packaging and textiles,” says Fellay.
Supporting models
“Within Brightsite, we have been working together for years on various models, such as CIMS (Chemelot Integral Model System), which has been discussed in previous BTOs, and SCIARS, a more generic, circular model that we are using in this BTO. SCIARS assesses the carbon lifecycle in value chains, from raw material extraction to end-use, including process steps and system effects. Our team of modelers has done a fine job, allowing us to excellently demonstrate the possibilities of a circular economy compared to the linear one. Together with Céline, I have tried to make the transition to a clear and understandable story. We have an urgent message with this BTO and hope, in addition to our broad target group of people within the industry with substantive knowledge and policymakers, to also reach the wider public,” explains Piek, who is responsible for the collaboration in the field of system transition within Brightsite at TNO.
More than technology
It’s about more than technology, according to Fellay and Piek. Barriers to implementation of circular options include economic factors, technological maturity, infrastructure gaps and regulatory gaps. “We are facing a social challenge. In order to achieve profitable sustainable production of plastics, the rules of the game will have to be changed. Now sustainable solutions are expected to comply with old rules that are in favour of fossil products,” says Fellay. “If the regulations remain as they are now, fossil fuels will remain cheaper. Only if other aspects, such as the sustainable impact, are taken into account through, for example, regulations, circular plastics will be able to compete with their fossil counterparts. But that must be a conscious choice. It is possible, but it has to be arranged and regulated,” adds Pim Piek.
“Our analysis shows the complexity of the transformation to a circular climate-neutral system and is an appeal for targeted steering. The PA6 example clearly shows the potential of circularity. The transition from a linear to an ideal circular economy could considerablyreduce the use of virgin feedstock, thereby reducing the associated fossil CO₂ emissions by more than half and eliminating the negative externalities of linear consumption on the climate and the environment. To make that step, various obstacles will have to be overcome. Government intervention is needed to change the rules of the game,” Fellay emphasizes.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way
As far as Piek is concerned, an important message is therefore ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. “With the help of SCIARS, we show that we can work towards a sustainable plasticsindustry. That does require sacrifices. We are increasingly aware of the challenges we face and what is and isn’t feasible. Policymakers must take the lead in this. But the government can’t do it alone, the industry must cooperate. Only if government and industry work together there is a chance of success. And in the end, it has to be paid for by the whole of society. This requires support and that starts with telling a clear story. It is important to make clear what we as Dutch industry can produce well, sustainably and cheaply. We will not be able to keep everything, so it is important to make choices. That also requires vision and courage from the trade associations, conservative and defensive behaviour won’t get you there,” says Piek.
Time to take action!
Both Fellay and Piek are proud of the end result. “Many elements are brought together in this BTO. This results in a story with a system vision. We don’t have the solutions, and we don’t pretend to. However, our scientifically substantiated, recognizable and clear argument can be valuable. We are making a sound that can be important for industry in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe,” Piek thinks.
“We have been able to quantify the benefits of a circular economy using our SCIARS model. Moreover, when I look back at this and previous BTOs, a nice evolution can be seen. In the first BTO, we set out Chemelot’s ambition when it comes to sustainability. A year later, we broadened this to include the challenges for the Dutch chemical sector. In BTO 2024, we started looking at what is needed to make the transition possible, more solution-oriented. Now we have taken the next step with an analysis that reveals where change is necessary. We have known for some time that the urgency for the transition of chemistry is there. New is perhaps that it is not just a sustainability issue. It is not simply about reducing CO2 emissions and the use of fossil feedstock, but it is also a geopolitical, strategic economic issue. A lot of research has now been done into the possibilities of circular economy for the chemical industry. Building from those, we provide complementary knowledge and make clear that government intervention is essential,” concludes Fellay.
Dave Beijer, interim Program Director Brightsite: “Read this Brightsite Transition Outlook for what it is: a substantive analysis and a call for targeted steering. Because if we consider the chemical industry crucial for our prosperity and strategic autonomy, it must be matched by a fair and future-proof playing field. Only then can we make the leap from ambition to delivery.”