Sustainable and digital: at the plastics trade fair K 2019 in Düsseldorf, materials manufacturer Covestro presents innovative material solutions that provide answers to the great challenges of the world. In doing so, the company continually pushes boundaries, in order to improve people’s lives and generate added value for customers, but also, above all, to reduce environmental influences.
Visitors to the world’s premier fair for the plastics and rubber industry will find many examples of this presented by Covestro at Booth A75 in Hall 6. From October 16–23, 2019, products and technologies for the automotive, construction and electronics industries will be on display, but also innovative and functional applications in the health, furniture, sports and leisure sectors.
“In addition to the advancing digitalization, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be a driving force in society and the economy for the coming years,” said CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann to journalists. “Their fulfillment is not only imperative for a better, cleaner and healthier world, but also holds great economic potential in the long term,” explained the CEO. “Covestro is determined to realize the UN sustainability goals at many levels.”
Markus Steilemann
Industry pioneer
Steilemann named the development of a functioning circular economy and improved management of limited fossil resources, primarily crude oil, as central points for increased sustainability. “These are goals that will impact society as a whole and Covestro wants to contribute to this. Within our company, we want to establish material cycles along the entire value chain, from suppliers, to production and logistics, to the use of our products and their reuse,” explained Steilemann.
When recycling used plastics, it will be important to be able to exhaust all technical possibilities. “The relatively new method of chemical recycling is also an option, which requires additional support,” said the CEO.
A key aspect for developing a circular economy in the plastics and chemical industry is closing the carbon cycle with recycled resources. Here, plant waste and increasingly CO2 are worth considering as alternatives to fossil resources. Covestro has already achieved numerous successes in these areas. “We want to become a pioneer on the path toward a future without fossil-based resources and emphasize our claim to leadership in the industry,” stressed Steilemann.
Digitalization creates added value
Another driving force is the advancing digitalization. Covestro wants to take advantage of the resulting opportunities and has started a comprehensive program, which focuses on the customer. To accomplish this, the company is incorporating digital technologies and processes into production, the supply chain, research and development, at all customer contact points and in new business model development. Various topics and exhibits at K 2019 underline how important digitalization is for the company, which hopes to set standards in this field in the plastics and chemical industry.