SÜDPACK expands its involvement in CARBOLIQ

With effect from January 2, 2024, SÜDPACK will take over additional shares in CARBOLIQ GmbH and appoint Dirk Hardow as managing director. SÜDPACK thereby underlines its commitment to the circular management of plastics and chemical recycling as a complementary recycling technology. Dirk Hardow, who as head of BU FF&C at SÜDPACK is responsible, among other things, for the development and implementation of circular models, will lead the company as managing director in the future.

The takeover of the majority shares in CARBOLIQ was signed on December 15th. For Erik Bouts, CEO at SÜDPACK, this means “a logical next step. We see CARBOLIQ technology as an essential building block for the transformation process of our industry towards a circular economy.”

With the takeover, the film manufacturer is also reinforcing its leading position in terms of circular economy in the flexible packaging industry. To date, SÜDPACK is the only manufacturer of flexible films that has direct access to chemical recycling capacity. “We are deeply convinced of the advantages of this advanced technology compared to other oiling processes,” emphasizes Dirk Hardow. “In our opinion, CARBOLIQ technology offers significant advantages over other processes in terms of energy consumption and processing windows for a wide range of recyclable materials,” Hardow continues.

For good reason: CARBOLIQ is an advanced thermo-chemical process, also known as direct oiling. The CARBOLIQ process differs significantly from other pyrolysis processes in its flexibility with regard to the infeed materials, which do not necessarily have to be of polyolefinic origin. Thanks to this high feedstock tolerance, CARBOLIQ is also suitable for oiling contaminated, mixed or other plastics as well as flexible packaging and highly complex multi-layer films.

Another advantage: the process takes place at a lower temperature of under 400°C. The low process temperature, the single-stage nature of the process and the introduction of energy directly into the material via friction enable the material to be converted using relatively little energy.

The first pilot projects with customers have already been successfully implemented or are currently in the implementation phase. “We assume that chemical recycling will play a key role in the upcoming PPWR (Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation), not least in order to enable the required recyclate use quotas, especially in the production of food packaging,” predicts Dirk Hardow.

The CARBOLIQ system concept is currently designed for an annual output of around 10.000 tons - based on high-calorie input fractions and in fully continuous operation. The secondary raw material marketed under the name CLR (Circular Liquid Resource) is similar in many essential properties to fossil petroleum or the products obtained from it - and is therefore a fully-fledged substitute for fossil resources.

Dirk Hardow is looking forward to getting customers excited about the technology and further establishing the process on the market together with the CARBOLIQ team. Because: “In our opinion, the transition to a circular economy cannot only be achieved through mechanical recycling, but rather through a healthy mix of different technologies.”

About SÜDPACK
SÜDPACK is a leading manufacturer of high-performance films and packaging solutions for the food, non-food and medical goods industries as well as customer-specific compounds for technically demanding areas of application.

The family business, which was founded by Alfred Remmele in 1964, is headquartered in Ochsenhausen. The production sites in Germany, France, Poland, India, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA are equipped with the latest plant technology and manufacture according to the highest standards, including under clean room conditions. The global sales and service network ensures close proximity to customers and comprehensive technical support in more than 70 countries.

With its state-of-the-art development and application center at its headquarters in Ochsenhausen, the innovation-oriented company offers its customers an optimal platform for the development of individual and customer-specific solutions as well as for carrying out application tests.

SÜDPACK is committed to sustainable development and assumes its responsibility as an employer and towards society, the environment and its customers. SÜDPACK has already received several awards for its sustainable product developments as well as its consistent commitment to a functioning circular economy in the plastics industry. Further information at www.suedpack.com