Last updated : May 12, 2025 7:39 am
We are offering a mass balanced version with a reduced carbon footprint of around 60% and expect it to be about 80% or even beyond
Thomas Braig - EVP, Head of Business Entity Elastomers, Covestro talks about his company's focus on sustainable offerings
The elastomer industry is evolving rapidly with demands for durability, flexibility, and sustainability. What trends do you see shaping the future of elastomers, and how is Covestro responding to these shifts?
We see three major trends for elastomers. There is demand for high performance, higher processing efficiency and sustainable/circular elastomers. We see increasingly rubber moving to polyurethane elastomers because of higher performance, more energy efficient processing and also lower investments needed to set up a production. Within polyurethane elastomers, we see the trend moving from hand casting to reliable and predictable machine casting. Covestro elastomers is addressing all three of them.
We are continuously investing in innovation to improve our performance. We are also improving the process ability with our machinery, making it scalable. Sustainability is the key element for us. We are offering solutions with reduced carbon footprints. For example, take some already available mass balance solution with, let’s say, around 60% reduced carbon footprint. So, we are addressing all of them: performance, process efficiency and sustainability.
You recently announced plans for a pilot plant to recycle elastomers chemically. Can you tell us more about this breakthrough and how it could redefine end-of-life solutions for elastomer products?
The pilot plant is dedicated for elastomers made of our Vulkollan product range. The parts made of Vulkollan are already outstanding in their life cycle performance because of the material’s long durability. Its product life cycle is very sustainable. We are already offering a solution with a reduced carbon footprint and the chemical recycling solution will then go even beyond to make it really fully circular. The pilot line is under construction and will be the basis for the scale up to a commercial plant subsequently. We are investing double-digit million in this pilot plant.
Vulkollan recently completed 75 years. How this product has evolved in the last 75 years and where it stands today?
Vulkollan evolved by continuously exploring because of its performance, superior performance, and more and more applications. We have continuously increased its performance. The processing of Vulkollan elastomers requires very specific handling procedures. This is why, we developed an easy- to- handle Vulkollan prepolymer Version, representing a significant process advancement for the customers. This innovation simplified the moulding of parts made of Vulkollan, enhancing efficiency and reducing investment requirements for the partners working with this unique material.
Covestro has made bold commitments to circularity and climate neutrality. How is the Elastomers division specifically contributing to these goals, and what challenges do you face in balancing performance with sustainability?
First of all, sustainability and circularity are key strategic priorities for Covestro. We see increasing demand for a sustainable and circular solution and our existing products offer these. We are offering a mass balanced version with a reduced carbon footprint of around 60%. We expect it to be about 80% or even beyond. Its the same molecule. Its the same process, just with a reduced carbon footprint and the same we are aiming for the chemical recycling and building a pilot plant.
Covestro is emphasizing on Crafting Solution for customers. How do you ensure elastomer division stays closely or with the needs of the industry like automation, renewable energy and material handling?
Being close to the customer creates opportunities to engage with customers, to develop innovations with customers, develop prototypes and help them to scale up and grow together. We have our own Technical Centers across the world. We also partner with long-term technical distribution partners who invest in dedicated Technical Centers.
How competitive is the market?
The market is quite competitive, though we see a demand for performance, efficiency and sustainability. We perceive that the market interprets competitiveness, not only in a raw material price, but the market is looking at a total cost of ownership. We can help the market with our products, processing equipment, and expertise.