Cologne-based plastics processor igus is investing in Hamburg-based start-up cirplus to promote the regenerative plastics industry of the future. The two companies have a joint vision of closing the plastics cycle and initiating a revolution in the trade of recycled materials from technical and standard thermoplastics.
The igus “Chainge” program has proven that circular economy can be easily achieved, it just needs new recyclate material options. From as early as 2019, igus recognised this requirement and has been enabling customers to have disused energy chains recycled, regardless of manufacturer. In October 2022, the “Chainge” online platform was created to provide easy digital access to recycling. The marketplace can now be used to add technical plastics to the circular economy that were previously not able to be accepted.
cirplus is mainly active in the markets for standard thermoplastics. The Hamburg start-up offers disposal companies, recyclers, and product manufacturers a digital marketplace through which they can buy standardised recyclates in a reliable, traceable, cost-effective manner – worldwide. The team of technology and digital experts are therefore promoting the networking of the plastics and recycling industries. cirplus was responsible for initiating DIN SPEC 91446 and DIN SPEC 91481 as the world’s first standards for high-quality plastics recycling. The motivation was to build reliable, transparent supply chains for plastic recyclates through the combination of digitalisation and standardisation.
In the future, customers will benefit from a network that links the recyclate trade in technical and standard thermoplastics and makes it possible to obtain everything easily and transparently from a single source. igus has 60 years of plastics experience, so it has developed a global network and offers access to consistent material flows.
The two companies are looking forward to the possibilities of a strategic partnership that offers potential for building the world’s largest AI platform for circular plastics. “Our efforts to expand our activities and make them usable for everyone led us to join forces with cirplus,” says Michael Blass, CEO e-chain systems at igus. With this investment, we are setting an example for people to think about sustainability and to create a network in order to be able to move more.”
Christian Schiller, cirplus CEO, adds, “In igus, we have found a partner who shares our values and works with us to advance digitalisation in the plastics industry with the aim of closing the cycle completely. igus’ experience in the field of technical plastics coupled with our expertise in the field of digitalisation and standard thermoplastics is the ideal starting point for pursuing a closed circular economy – across all industries.”
The common goal of making the regenerative use of plastics easier than ever before has brought igus and cirplus together. The companies are hoping to promote the networking of the plastics and recycling industries through their joint vision of closing the plastics cycle and initiating a revolution in the trade of recycled materials from technical and standard thermoplastics.
