The polynSPIRE Project Brought Together Leading Companies in the Sector

The Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) hosted the "Dissemination Event" of the polynSPIRE Project, which is supported under Horizon 2020, Europe's largest civil R&D programme, and will run for 4 years, on 4 October 2019 in Istanbul with the participation of 21 project partners, including major companies from the chemical sector from 11 European countries. Under the PolynSPIRE Project, coordinated by the Energy Resources and Consumption Research Centre CIRCE and with a budget of approximately EUR 10 million, İKMİB brought together a total of 21 project partners from 11 European countries with Turkish stakeholders. The "polynSPIRE Dissemination Event" hosted by İKMİB was attended by İKMİB Board Member Ahmet Faik Bitlis, Istanbul Mining and Metals Exporters Associations (İMMİB) General Secretary Dr. S. Armağan Vurdu, polynSPIRE Project Coordinator Tatiana Garcia Armingol, as well as representatives of the project's Turkish partners İKMİB and KORDSA, representatives of major companies in the chemical sector in Europe, representatives of leading companies in the Turkish chemical sector, entrepreneurs from the plastics, steel and automotive sectors, waste managers, and representatives of relevant NGOs and associations. At the event, the Energy Resources and Consumption Research Centre CIRCE presented the polynSPIRE project and Sabancı University presented the ISOPREP project.

"Targeting a USD 63 Billion Sector by 2050"

Commenting on the polynSPIRE project, İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister stated, "As İKMİB, we are partners in the polynSPIRE Project and are contributing to the project on recycling. Within the framework of the "Dissemination Event" organised by our Association, we held the 2nd consortium meeting of the project in Istanbul, bringing together 21 project partners from across Europe with our Turkish companies. As İKMİB, we are contributing to the dissemination activities of the polynSPIRE project. The issue of plastic use and recycling is an important topic that needs to be addressed within the framework of environmental and circular economy perspectives. In recent years, zero-waste practices by individuals or institutions have become widespread worldwide. In this direction, it is expected that 60% of the world's total plastic needs will be met through recycling by 2050. Furthermore, the market size of the plastic recycling sector is projected to exceed USD 900 billion by 2050. Turkey, if it sustains its current growth, is targeted to become a USD 63 billion sector by 2050," he said.

"Recycling Sector Creates Added Value"

Noting that USD 116 million worth of plastic waste was imported in 2018, Pelister stated, "The sector achieved exports totalling USD 770 million by recycling this imported waste. These figures clearly demonstrate the added value created by the recycling sector and its importance for our country. Approximately 100,000 tonnes of polyamide, which serves as an input in many sectors, particularly automotive, becomes waste annually. After completing its lifecycle and providing chemical recycling, we aim to use these products again as raw materials in the sector," he noted.

"A Waste Map of Europe Will Be Created Under the Project"

Stating that through the project, which includes leading representatives of the European plastics sector, they will inform the sector about innovative developments in plastic recycling, Pelister said, "A waste map of Europe will be created under the project. As İKMİB, we will share information with our sector about waste processing in Turkey. Furthermore, the project presents an important opportunity for our chemical sector companies to participate in R&D projects. I hope our companies will make good use of this opportunity," he said.

"We Prioritise the Dissemination of Recycling Technologies in Turkey"

Speaking at the opening of the event, İKMİB Board Member Ahmet Faik Bitlis said, "We have gathered here to present our project, which aims to provide recycling of plastic waste at lower cost, with less energy consumption and in higher quality, and to bring together important players in the European chemical sector with our Turkish stakeholders." Noting that mechanical recycling practices are currently being carried out in Turkey, but that the quality of products produced by the mechanical method is not sufficient for use in packaging that comes into direct contact with food or in products where aesthetics are important, Bitlis stated, "As long as we do not use chemical recycling applications, we will not be able to reach the point of 100% zero waste. For this reason, we attach importance to the dissemination of technologies developed in Europe related to chemical recycling in Turkey in order to produce sustainable solutions to the results we cannot achieve with mechanical methods and to close these gaps in the sector," he said.

"The Project Plans to Launch 3 Different Innovations"

Speaking at the polynSPIRE Dissemination Event, polynSPIRE Project Coordinator Tatiana Garcia Armingol stated, "polynSPIRE, which aims to present innovative technologies for plastic recycling, plans to launch a total of 3 different innovations within a 48-month period. With the project, we aim to chemically recover plastic monomers and fillers, develop alternative additives to increase the quality of recycled plastics, and utilise plastic waste in the steel industry as a carbon source (not just as fuel). Additionally, within the scope of the project, we aim to provide higher quality recycling of plastic waste containing polyamide and polyurethane in particular, and to achieve this more cost-effectively, with less energy and better quality," she said.