Evonik and Schneider Electric Partner to Digitize Thermoplastic Recycling at Essen Facility

According to a recent announcement made during the K 2025 trade fair in Düsseldorf, Evonik and Schneider Electric have entered into a strategic partnership to automate thermoplastic processing at Evonik’s Essen Goldschmidt site in Germany. The initiative, as reported by both companies, aims to enhance the efficiency of mechanical plastic recycling and improve the quality of recyclates, reflecting their shared commitment to advancing a circular economy.

It is understood that Evonik contributes its long-standing expertise in polymer additives and circular chemistry, while Schneider Electric brings cutting-edge solutions in industrial automation and digital transformation. Together, the two companies are expected to demonstrate how data-driven technologies can make recycling operations smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable.

“Digitalization is essential for advancing circularity,” said Jessica Bethune, Vice President of Industrial Automation DACH at Schneider Electric. “Our collaboration with Evonik demonstrates how automation can enhance recycling efficiency and quality, showcasing the power of teamwork in building a sustainable future.”

Meanwhile, Patrick Glöckner, Head of Evonik’s newly launched Next Markets Program, emphasized that “combining digitalization with chemistry enables circularity in plastics and takes thermoplastic processing to the next level.”

According to information provided by Evonik, the first phase of this partnership focuses on digitizing a pilot plant at its Goldschmidt site. The facility will adopt an open automation approach designed to collect and contextualize data from multiple machines into a unified access point. This data-driven system is expected to reduce manual work, streamline calculations, and optimize performance through real-time analytics.

As reported by Schneider Electric, the long-term goal of the cooperation extends beyond recycling alone. The companies plan to apply digitalization principles across all stages of plastic processing—from laboratory research to commercial-scale production—shortening time-to-market for new additives and strengthening scalability through quantified performance insights.

According to industry observers, this collaboration aligns with a broader European movement toward smart, traceable recycling systems. The European Commission’s Circular Plastics Alliance and the forthcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) revisions are pushing manufacturers to integrate automation and digital tools to meet circularity targets. The Evonik–Schneider Electric partnership thus illustrates how cross-industry innovation can merge chemistry and digitalization to create a truly intelligent recycling ecosystem.

Source: Evonik Industries AG