Reducing Waste: European Innovation Revamps the Plastic Circular Economy

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Borealis's Innovation Hall in Linz, Austria, is a unique space that combines the look of a manufacturing plant with the purpose of a research facility. Inside, a variety of raw materials—some with unusual names like polymers—are combined with additives, antioxidants, or glass fibre to test the production of numerous everyday products.

Doris Machl, the Head of the Competence Center at Compounds & Recyclates, explains: “The different products we design could be pipes or bumpers, or of course packaging material to wrap a sweet.”

From insulating materials to fully recyclable transparent films, these real-size manufacturing lines allow developers to demonstrate how plastic materials can be given a second life in factory-like conditions. These facilities serve as the Innovation Headquarters for Borealis, one of Europe’s largest chemical groups. The company employs 6,200 people and operates in 120 countries. It claims to be fully committed to transforming plastic waste into innovative products.

Stefan Doboczky, the CEO of Borealis, states: “We’re one of the very few companies that makes the virgin material, uses waste materials, and makes products out of it that are truly for high-performance applications. So these are not buckets or pallets. We actually are upcycling and not only recycling.”

The group recognizes that the most effective way to reduce plastic waste is to prevent it from entering the environment. In 2017, they launched a project called STOP, aimed at addressing plastic waste in Indonesia.

Markus Horcher, the company’s Vice President for Sustainability and Public Affairs, explains: “We chose Indonesia because 60% of the waste is not collected, meaning it goes to open burning, illegal dump sites, pollutes rivers, and ends up in the ocean. We have developed and applied the system in three partner cities. We have actually connected more than 600,000 people to waste management and created 260 jobs locally.”

Borealis has filed over 12,000 patents, showcasing its commitment to innovation and sustainability. Through its efforts, the company is not only working to reduce plastic waste but also creating opportunities for communities affected by it. By focusing on both technological advancement and environmental responsibility, Borealis is setting a new standard in the chemical industry.

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