SIBUR and BASF join forces for sustainable development

Moscow, 29 August 2019. SIBUR held a design session on sustainable development in the petrochemical industry.

At the event, BASF shared details on its new sustainability strategy and its integration into the company's overall strategy. The participants were also presented with the company's methods of environmental impact assessment and approach to the circular economy, which embraces opportunities for chemical recycling of plastics, such as the ChemCycling project. With chemical recycling, fossil resources for chemical production can be replaced with recycled material from plastic waste.

SIBUR and BASF have agreed to closely cooperate on sustainable development to share their best practices.

Maxim Remchukov, Sustainable Development Director at SIBUR: “Today's event is strategically important for SIBUR. First, we have defined the model to cooperate with BASF on sustainable development. Second, we have discussed possible joint recycling projects and the transformation of the waste management industry in Russia with our partners and customers. Setting priorities, developing practical measures to ensure further growth, and stable partnership with international companies are significant for sustainable development as a recently established function.”

Pavel Skrylev, Head of BASF Plastic Additives in Russia and CIS: “As one of the global industry leaders, BASF strives to contribute to the development of the Russian market of polymeric materials and share its best practices, including those relating to sustainable development. The responsible use of plastics is crucial for addressing the problem of environmental pollution. Our ChemCycling project unlocks new opportunities for the transition to the circular economy.”

One of the petrochemical companies' sustainability priorities is to contribute to the development of the circular economy, namely, to promote polymer recycling: currently, only 16% of plastic waste is recycled. Global FMCG players and polymer producers have already committed to the circular economy transition on a voluntary basis giving an impetus to the development of plastics recycling. The event participants noted that in order to achieve the national goals and voluntary commitments of the FMCG players as regards the circular economy, it is necessary to completely transform the waste management industry to create synergies between waste management operators, manufacturers, waste procesing companies and households.

Apart from BASF, SIBUR’s design session was attended by representatives of Unilever, Boston Consulting Group, Renaissance Capital, as well as Razdelniy Sbor, the association for ecology and environmental protection.