Collaboration on the direct conversion of waste into circular chemicals

The Global Impact Coalition (GIC), a CEO-led coalition committed to advancing a circular, net-zero future for the chemical value chain, has launched a strategic research collaboration with scientists from ETH Zurich and five GIC member companies: Basf, Clariant, Covestro, LyondellBasell, and Suez. The aim of this collaboration is to explore synergies between traditional chemical processes and emerging technologies that convert waste into circular chemicals, specifically focusing on the possible direct conversion of waste into chemicals in a more sustainable approach.

Direct conversion is a promising technology that can transform complex waste streams into valuable C2+ chemical compounds – such as ethylene and propylene – through gasification. These compounds are essential building blocks for products like contact-sensitive plastics, detergents, paints, and textiles. The process could offer a lower emission, cost-effective alternative to fossil-based feedstocks, with the potential to reduce reliance on virgin resources and cut greenhouse gas emissions from chemical production.

Researchers at ETH Zurich will conduct environmental and techno-economic assessments of the direct conversion process. Findings from these studies will help assess the viability of a proof-of-concept and identify conditions for any future pilot-scale efforts.​ The collaboration will explore key scientific and technical challenges in waste-to-chemicals conversion, including processing heterogeneous waste materials and integrating new feedstocks into existing chemical value chains. By combining GIC’s industry knowledge with ETH Zurich’s research expertise, the project aims to build a shared understanding of opportunities and constraints in this emerging field.