SWEDEN has become a beacon of hope for a better, cleaner and more efficient world thanks to some of the world’s leading chemical companies.
Among those companies, currently involved in Sustainable Chemistry 2030, is INEOS Sverige AB.
Since 2010 the five companies in Stenungsund have been quietly focusing on increased recycling of plastic, and using plastic, instead of oil and gas, to make products.
“It is important for us to exploit the full value of plastics,” said Elin Hermansson, Project Manager of Sustainable Chemistry 2030.
Chemical companies are working with academia, politicians and scientists to find the best way to use waste as a resource - and break their dependence on the Earth’s reserves of oil and gas. Increased recycling of plastic will help.
The group has also developed a concept that would mean recycled plastics could be made into fresh, raw materials and new products.
“This concept could close the loop for plastics and recycle 100 %,” said Elin. “Pre-studies of this have also shown there is large potential for a reduction in CO2 emissions.”
There have also been ongoing projects related to energy efficiency within the chemical cluster.
A site analysis, carried out by Chalmers University of Technology and funded by the Swedish energy agency, showed a big saving potential – a 10 % reduction in CO2 emissions - when all five companies were considered. Follow-up projects have also shown that it is possible.
“The chemical cluster already meets more than 97% of the demand for district heating in Stenungsund,” said Elin. “But despite that, there is still a huge amount of excess heat that goes to waste.”
One solution might be to build a 30km pipeline so it can be used as district heating by people in Gothenburg.
“All these are major challenges but we want to help build a future society where we use renewable resources to develop more sustainable products,” she said.