Chemical Sites as Catalysts for the Transition to a Circular Economy

The chemical industry, often referred to as the “industry of industries”, plays a crucial role in the Circular Economy, an economic model aimed at closing material loops and minimizing harmful environmental impacts. However, the sector in Europe is currently facing unprecedented economic pressure, unlike anything in its history—since the groundbreaking inventions over the past two centuries, like the Haber-Bosch process, coal tar dye chemistry, and the concept of Verbund-sites where the by-product of one process serves as input for the next. This article highlights the opportunities and challenges facing the industry in the context of a Circular Economy.