The potential of closing the carbon cycle in chemical industries

Climate protection and the burdens of European emissions trading demand the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The focus of these efforts is CO₂, which today comes from the use of fossil raw materials for energy and materials. While the conversion to emission-free energies is possible and on its way, the emission potential from the carbon bound in chemical products will remain in the long term. One way out is to close the carbon cycle by creating circular value chains using (i) the natural carbon cycle (photosynthesis) and the (ii) technical cycles of waste recycling and (iii) carbon capture and usage (CCU). All three cycles are already established to varying degrees today, but have enormous potential for development.

This session presents the status quo and future scenarios of carbon recycling for the chemical industry up to 2050 and discusses, based on current examples, the as yet unexploited potential for value creation and climate protection in closing the carbon cycle.