We talked to Sarmenio Saliba, Sustainability Business Leader with Trinseo at the 3rd Go Circular Business Summit in Antwerp about the key drivers for the chemical industry transition towards the circular economy. Trinseo is a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics and latex binders with a focus on delivering innovative, sustainable, and value-creating products that are intrinsic to our daily lives. 

What do you expect to be the main driver of plastics circularity?

1. Climate change

I think for me the main driver for the plastics circularity starts with climate change. This is what we have seen in the last years with increased awareness and increased pressure from society. In my opinion, this would be the ultimate driver for the circularity topic we have in our industry. Of course, it trickles down to NGOs, to the authorities, then to brand owners, and to the industry itself. What started really downstream moves up to the producers and to the value chain.

And it is the right driver, because at the end of the day what we are doing - is we are trying to reduce carbon print across our value chain.

2. Technologies and innovation

But this process is to be fueled with technologies and innovations. Technologies and innovations remain another important driver for chemical and mechanical plastics recycling.

3. Collaboration.

Each participant in the value chain needs to collaborate with others both upstream and downstream to enable the transition to circularity.

4. Regulation.

Without proper regulation, it will be difficult to achieve the targets and objections in what we do.