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Source: All-About-Industries
At the K 2025 trade fair, BASF showcased these new recycling techniques for Polyamide 6, created in partnership with Mercedes-Benz and suppliers Pöppelmann and ZF.
Chemical Recycling Process
In a pilot project, a chemical process was devised to recycle technical plastics through depolymerization. This method involves breaking down long polyamide chains at their inherent predetermined breaking points. The resulting purified monomers, known as caprolactam, are then re-synthesized into polyamide (PA6). After being processed into a polyamide compound, the material meets necessary quality standards, making it suitable for high-demand components in the automotive sector, according to BASF.
ZF has utilized this material to manufacture a chassis component, specifically the stabilizer link, for Mercedes-Benz.
The second process focuses on utilizing shredder residues from end-of-life vehicles, which consist of a mixture of various materials after the removal of glass and metals. BASF has successfully extracted polyamide (PA6) from these residues.
This extracted polyamide fraction serves as the foundation for a new solvent-based recycling method within the pilot project. Unlike the previous method, this process selectively dissolves the polymer chains using a suitable solvent, cleans them, and ultimately reprocesses them into usable PA6 compounds.
Mercedes-Benz has validated this technology by using a chain guide rail in series production. Components were manufactured by Pöppelmann under near-series conditions as part of the pilot project and passed testing successfully.
BASF has commissioned life cycle analyses from an external company alongside these pilot projects. The findings indicate significant CO2 emission savings for both new recycling processes, especially when compared to the use of fossil raw materials for producing comparable polyamide compounds and traditional plastic recycling methods, such as thermal recovery.
ABB and Swedish textile impact company Syre have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore how automation, electrification, and digital technologies can support the development of Syre’s first industrial-scale textile-to-textile recycling facility in Gia Lai province, Vietnam.
The exploratory collaboration provides a framework to assess how advanced process control, quality optimization, and electrical infrastructure can enable safe, efficient, and scalable production of circular polyester.
UK retailer Aldi and dairy cooperative Arla Foods have partnered with recycling tech specialist Polytag to initiate an operational pilot aimed at tracking milk bottles through the UK recycling stream using advanced ultraviolet (UV) tagging technology.
Building on an initial pilot conducted in 2023, the collaboration seeks to gather granular, data-driven insights into how packaging moves beyond the point of sale and behaves within municipal waste systems.
GreenDot France is exploring the acquisition of French Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) operator Léko, a move that could significantly reshape the country’s waste management and recycling landscape. The potential transaction aims to strengthen collection infrastructure, improve sorting networks, and accelerate the transition toward a circular economy in France.