Actions to accelerate chemicals circularity

Study by Cefic, with consultancy UNITY, reveals key actions to accelerate circularity in the chemicals industry and beyond (pinfa is a Cefic Sector Group). The joint study, “Accelerating the Circular Transformation: Insights, Challenges, and Pathways for the Chemical Industry and Beyond” outlines a 5-point action plan to advance circularity:

Drive a supportive regulatory framework with targeted incentives.
Facilitate investments in circular infrastructure and technologies.
Embed circular thinking across the economy and society.
Foster innovation through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Monitor progress to close implementation gaps.

Drawing on insights from interviews with experts across European chemical companies and supported by case studies, the study reveals that 52% of these companies consider themselves advanced in the circular transition, while 82% have embedded circular economy principles into their corporate strategies.
Despite this progress, some challenges remain. For instance, 80% of plastics in Europe do not return to new products. Meeting recycling targets will require a rapid expansion of recycling technologies and infrastructure. Chemical companies are actively working to scale up mechanical, physical, and chemical recycling, with efforts to optimise and scale these innovations.
In parallel, achieving true circularity also requires embedding other R-strategies, such as Refuse, Reduce, Repair, and Reuse, into innovation processes and new business models to minimise waste at its source.
Marco Mensink, Cefic Director General, stated: “While the industry is stepping up, scaling circularity will require decisive action across the entire policy, business, and societal ecosystem.”

“Chemical industry’s circularity study reveals 5 urgent actions to scale the transition”, Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council) and UNITY, 17th June 2025 https://cefic.org/news/chemical-industrys-circularity-study-reveals-5-urgent-actions-to-scale-the-transition/
Full report “Accelerating the circular transformation: insights, challenges and pathways for the chemical industry and beyond”, 34 pages, https://www.unity-consulting.com/en/news/circularity-study-accelerating-the-circular-transformation/