LYB and Nedlin: moving forward together in sustainability and circularity

With manufacturing sites and joint ventures in 20 countries and products sold in over 100 countries, LyondellBasell (LYB) is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. The company makes basic materials for applications in packaging, infusion bags, wind turbines, contact lenses, power cables and car bumpers, among other things. And it is committed to addressing the challenges that come with it. “The chemical industry is often under a magnifying glass,” says Tuijtel. “I am happy to be part of a company that is working to accelerate the circular transition and is committed to finding ways to recycle plastics for reuse, so that we can look to the future with confidence.” 

Strategy and sustainability apporach 

LYB is a sustainability leader in the chemical industry. The company offers solutions for everyday sustainable living, says Tuijtel. “In March 2023, on Capital Markets Day, we presented our new strategy. This is based on growing and upgrading the core, building a profitable circular and low-carbon solutions business and stepping up performance and culture. LYB has also structured its sustainability approach around three global challenges: ending plastic waste, taking climate action, and supporting a thriving society. This approach shapes how we manage our business and execute strategic objectives.”

Towards a circular economy

The company is taking impressive steps forward. For example, it has various in-house recycling technologies for recycling plastic. The factory in Geleen, one of the production locations in the Netherlands, is a mechanical recycling factory. “That is a relatively simple and efficient process,” says Tuijtel. “Here, empty packaging from shampoo, detergent and butter is shredded, washed and then sorted by color. These shreds are then melted and processed into granules that, as recycled plastic, form the raw material for new, high-quality products. Think trendy strollers, fashionable quality suitcases and stylish product packaging.” 

Chemical recycling 

In Wesseling, near Cologne, LYB is building an integrated circular hub that pushes the boundaries of what is possible with plastic recycling. An important part of this hub is a chemical recycling plant, which is expected to be operational in 2026. The recycling process is based on LYB’s own MoReTec-technology. This allows plastics that are difficult to recycle to be broken down to their molecular building blocks. The result? Oil and gas, also known as pyrolysis oil and gas. “This allows us to make plastics equivalent in quality to those made from fossil-based feedstocks. The beauty of it is that these materials can be used for industries with the strictest requirements, such as the food and medical industries. The factory is designed to recycle the amount of plastic packaging waste generated by over 1.2 million consumers per year.”

Innovations for a thriving dutch industry 

LYB also produces bio-based plastics using a mass balance approach, for example from used cooking oil. And the company is developing a unique solvent-based recycling technology, called Newcycling. This should enable the company to produce new materials for flexible packaging for personal care products and cosmetics, for example. LYB is at the forefront of these technologies. But there are challenges: the cost of raw materials, energy, and additional levies - such as a national CO2 levy to the EU Emissions Trading System - are putting pressure on the competitive position of the Netherlands in Europe. That is why LYB is increasingly seeking to collaborate with other companies and governments. “For products that we need every day, we should be less dependent on producers in other regions. With legislation and subsidies, the government could stimulate the market for recycled materials. But do it at the European level. We should not want member states to come up with their own legislation that disrupts the European market. That is important for keeping Dutch industry thriving.”

Goalzero

Speaking of health, to emphasize LYB’s dedication to health and safety, the company uses the GoalZERO principle. “The goal is zero injuries, zero incidents and zero accidents, so that all our employees can return home safely at the end of their working day.” The collaboration with Nedlin helps to achieve that goal. In the various factories for which Nedlin does the laundry, operators wear clothing with a special layer that protects against flammable substances and fire. The layer is reapplied with each wash. “That is essential in our process.” 

Making impact

It is also important that Nedlin complies with the latest ISO standards in the areas of quality and visibility. B Corp certification is also appreciated, says Tuijtel. “The use of ecolabels is becoming increasingly important in our purchasing process. We strongly believe in collaboration to promote sustainability in the value chain. The collaboration with Nedlin gave us a new perspective on our clothing stock, and their data-driven approach helped us optimize resource use.

For example, the number of garments and the washing process at our factories in Moerdijk and ‘s-Gravendeel has been reduced by 20%. That leads to more efficient use of resources and more sustainable management of the clothing.” The greatest added value lies not only in sustainability and efficiency, but also in good cooperation. ”We appreciate that they think proactively with us. That keeps us on our toes.” 

Socially engaged

Learning from each other and working together: this characterizes not only the cooperation with suppliers such as Nedlin, but also the corporate culture. “Our Rotterdam office is home to over 50 different nationalities. And we want to be good neighbors in our communities. Partly through our strategic partnership with the Feyenoord Foundation and by organizing regular volunteer activities, for example, for the Food Bank.”

In action for the climate

Unsurprisingly, LYB has set ambitious global climate targets. By 2030, it aims to cut scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42%, and scope 3 emissions by 30%, compared to 2020 levels. By 2050, LYB targets net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions from its own operations. It has taken concrete steps toward these goals, including long-term energy contracts for solar and wind power and connecting to the Botlek Steam Network to reuse residual heat from neighboring factories. The realization of these ambitions seems far away, but the industry is looking far ahead. “In our factories, we have a factory shutdown on average every six years. Then we shut down production for a few weeks for maintenance and optimization, and to implement projects to make our operations more sustainable. We have to plan that well in advance, in close consultation with, for example, governments and grid operators. Because if we want to electrify, for example, there has to be power. 2050 will be here before we know it.”