Advancing circularity at Solvay
Solvay can contribute to the circular economy, protecting natural resources and providing our customers with lower environmental footprint products.
For us, circularity – a systemic approach that decouples economic growth from finite resource consumption through closed-loop systems, emphasizing resource efficiency, extended product lifespan, and waste as a resource – presents a significant challenge particularly given our historical reliance on key natural resources like sand, salt, and limestone.
To meet this challenge, Solvay is collaborating with customers and suppliers to build new ecosystems and to implement comprehensive circularity strategies. Below are just a few examples of the various ways we are contributing to more circularity.
More renewable and bio-sourced raw materials
At our Livorno plant in Italy, we’re piloting silica production from rice husk ash. To produce silica, you need a source of silicon dioxide. Traditionally, this material is derived from sand. But an alternative with a better environmental profile exists: rice husk ash!
Augeo® is an innovative line of bio-based solvents developed from glycerin, a renewable source. As a high performance alternative to petrochemical solvents, Augeo® is composed of versatile molecules, with high solubility power and low odor.
More recycled essential chemicals in our clients production lines
Rhodianyl® solution is a pioneering polymer. It’s made from 100% pre-consumer recycled polyamide, something that’s made possible by our use of chemical recycling technology.
Solvay leverages its advanced chemical processing knowledge to develop and implement innovative rare earth recycling solutions, focusing on efficient extraction and purification.
More recycling solutions to our clients
Solvay, through its Solval® and Resolest® operations, provides specialized recycling services to its clients of SOLVAir® flue gas cleaning solutions. These services include the transformation of our clients residues into valuable secondary raw materials. “80% of the residues collected from our SOLVAir® clients are recycled into raw materials for our soda ash plants in Dombasle, France and Rosignano, Italy,” says Pierre Gigout, Solvay Business Manager.
For example, Solvay has established an SF6 ReUse Program, aimed at providing a responsible way for users, especially utility companies, to manage their used SF6. The Program’s goal is to minimize SF6 emissions into the environment and includes services such as:
- Analytical services to determine the quality of used SF6
- Safe packaging and transportation of the gas
- Reclaiming and purifying used SF6 for reuse
A second life for by-products
To produce soda ash in Europe, we use brine as a primary raw material. Before processing it, we purify the brine. In some cases this step generates gypsum. This by-product can be valorized in applications such as construction materials, plaster boards, and agriculture leveraging gypsum’s resistant, safe and sustainable characteristics. Today, key players are using this by-product as an alternative to virgin resources.