Concepts and Sustainability Assessment of the Circular Carbon Economy: Chemical Recycling for Olefin Production

Abstract

The transformation of the current linear carbon economy to a circular carbon economy with chemical recycling of plastic waste and recirculation of domestic carbon resources is investigated using the example of petroleum-based olefin production. The scenario-based sustainability assessment shows the potential of chemical recycling to cover olefin production in Germany. With perspective 2050, the entire olefin production could be realized by coupling green e-hydrogen with previously incinerated non-fossil waste.