Sustainability Catalysts
Defossilation & the circular economy

Next Gen Solutions

The heart of sustainable technologies lies with Catalysts & Adsorbents

The chemistry business touches 96% of all manufactured goods; from the cars we drive, to the packaging of our food. Specialty chemistry powers advances and innovation within a vast range of industries worldwide, playing a critical role in the achievement of a Net Zero future.


How innovative Catalysts & Adsorbents drive our society towards sustainability

Production of more than 80% of all manufactured goods is expedited, at least in part, by catalysis. We are working to develop more effective, more sustainable catalytic processes as a key tool for creating products that drive sustainability.

Evonik Catalysts considers sustainability at every step of the way – with a particular focus on more sustainable solutions for customers. Our outlook is two-fold: reducing the footprint and increasing the handprint.

Discover our Next Gen Solutions

Flow Chemistry

Nickel Foam

The footprint refers to the negative environmental and social impacts during the manufacturing and shipping of products, like emissions from purchased raw materials, plant utilities, transport and logistics, and waste. 

The handprint, on the contrary, recognizes the actions a company takes towards more environmental and social sustainability, above and beyond reducing its own carbon footprint, and also beyond its own value chain – like inventing and producing new products that enable recycling of materials. 

When footprint and handprint are equal in size, we’ve become carbon neutral.

We are committed to reducing and avoiding the negative effects on the environment wherever we can; as part of Evonik, we are looking to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% between 2021 and 2030.

Alternativbild

Our catalysts can assist with:

  • The reduction of waste and unwanted byproducts
  • Reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions
  • Higher selectivity/yield of target product
  • The change towards alternative (e.g. biobased) raw materials

What sustainability looks like for Evonik, and for our customers

We have four Sustainability Focus Areas that guide our work.

We are focused on reducing our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and using renewable energies.

Innovative Catalyst solutions

A better alternative to conventional catalysts for fixed-bed applications, our innovative nickel foam catalysts boast the same output with fewer quantities, a longer catalyst life and are fully recoverable – with little to no waste.

Alternativbild

Flow chemistry

With precious metal powder catalysts suitable for flow chemistry – which translates batch processes to continuous flow – the efficiency of reactions is improved; raw material and solvent consumption is reduced

Alternativbild

Adorbents

Our adsorbents are used as part of a process to re-refine used oil, to make it suitable for reuse – helping reduce the carbon footprint. 

Alternativbild

Excel® Rejuvenation

An alternative to fresh catalysts, this technology restores spent catalysts back to their original activity. By utilizing Excel® Rejuvenated catalysts – as opposed to using fresh ones – there is a 60% decrease in CO2eq emissions, and a 60% reduction in waste. 

Alternativbild

Biodiesel

A substitute for petroleum diesel, biodiesel reduces CO2 emissions up to 67%, and can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 86% over its entire life cycle. Evonik’s alkoxide portfolio is tailored for the transesterification process that produces this biodegradable material.

Focused upon the use of environmentally friendly products, Evonik products and solutions can support deforestation-free supply chains and biodiversity.

ESHQ

We boast an established, integrated ESHQ (Environment, Safety, Health & Quality) management system, based on ISO standards. These are focused on commitments to the environment, ecological awareness, climate protection and energy saving, and health protection for employees worldwide.

Alternativbild

Zero liquid discharge plant

Our facility in Dombivli, India purifies and recycles wastewater at the end of an industrial process, for more efficient water use and a significant reduction in waste liquid from the plant.

Alternativbild

We aim to use renewable and circular raw materials, reduce production waste, and produce products that enable circular solutions.

Precious metal management & recycling

Our five-step closed loop system recovers precious metal from spent catalysts. As recycled metal has a significantly lower carbon footprint than alternative metals from primary sources, this cycle can help customers achieve sustainability targets and contribute to a circular economy.

Alternativbild

Polyester Recycling

PET – polyethylene terephthalate – waste requires a recycling solution. At Evonik our scientists are looking for ways to convert PET into its chemical components – in turn, recovering pure raw materials.

Circular Plastics initiative

As part of Evonik’s Global Circular Plastics Program, our catalysts and adsorbents facilitate chemical recycling of plastics residues that would otherwise end up in landfill or incinerated. We have developed a chemical recycling process that regains the basic components of polyurethanes, to produce new polyurethanes.

Alternativbild

When specialty chemistry is not done right, it can expose people to volatile organic compounds, microparticles or dangerous chemicals – an important focus of ours is how we avoid this and keep people safe. 

Our catalysts for Life Science and Fine Chemicals are used for making food and feed, pharmaceuticals and agrichemicals, cosmetics and care specialties. These products improve the quality and standard of living and ensure the nutrition, health and well-being of an ever-expanding and aging society. 

Activated & precious metal catalysts

Through handling instructions, we enable customers to use our activated metal and precious metal catalysts safely and correctly over their individual life cycles.

Activated foam catalysts

To make the catalyst exchange process safer and faster, we activate foam catalysts by leaching the surface to generate a ready-to-use product. When a customer receives these catalysts in water-filled drums, they can be poured directly out into the reactor – without hazard dust or elaborate protective measures.

Alternativbild

Focused on the future

  • Providing sustainable solutions for customers
  • Reduce both our own and customers’ footprint, and increase handprint
  • Guided by four Sustainability Focus Areas
  • Decrease carbon emissions with our catalysts – both short and long-term
  • Along with reduce, reuse and recycle, we rejuvenate spent catalysts
  • We place an emphasis on health and wellbeing, prioritizing the safety of our employees and customers worldwide

Further Links

Sustainability at Evonik

Circular plastic solutions from Evonik