Rethink the cycle

Factors like resource scarcity, disrupted global supply chains and climate change call for rethinking production processes within the chemical industry.

There is an increased need for designing sustainable solutions that put circularity at the core of the chemical industry, lowering the demand for virgin resources over the entire life cycle of the essential products that it manufactures. The goal? Achieving resource efficiency across value chains and facilitating material reuse, driving the development process in the chemical industry towards circularity.

A framework for circularity

The circular economy goes beyond waste management, aiming to close material cycles and improve resource efficiency across value chains. This approach mitigates the impact of growing demand for materials. GEA works to support customers in enhancing resource efficiency and advancing circular economic models in production.

GEA designs engineering solutions to meet demanding industrial standards while supporting the transition toward a net-zero economy. We apply our design expertise to help customers develop manufacturing processes that transform waste into new materials, supporting circular manufacturing practices and providing strategic value to operators.

Across industries and applications

PET (Bottle) recycling

The majority of non-alcoholic beverages worldwide are bottled in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. GEA decanter centrifuges make an ecologically and economically valuable contribution to the recycling of PET bottles.

PET ( Textile) recycling

Albeit often overlooked in conversation about pollution, the fashion industry contributes more to global carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. GEA is innovating to help make the complete separation of polycotton fibers possible.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling

GEA’s decades-long experience in non-ferrous applications translate in state-of-the-art multitasking gas cleaning plants that make possible to slash down emissions and ensure the circularity of the recycled metals.

Battery materials recycling

With over a century of expertise in evaporation and crystallization, we have designed and fabricated centrifugal separators, evaporators and crystallizers suitable for all process steps of the battery recycle process without compromising the purity of the materials.

Chemical recycling

Chemical recycling is a complex process that involves several technologies to break down waste into its basic chemical components. GEA's state-of-the-art technologies make possible to depolymerize, separate, purify and refine complex molecular structures, ensuring an efficient and effective chemical recycling.

Rare earth elements recycling

Currently, only about 1% of rare earth elements in old products, such as electronic waste, fluorescent lighting or permanent magnets, are recycled. GEA technologies make possible to recover these valuable materials, ensuring supply chain security amid an ever-growing demand and reducing the environmental impact.

Biopolymer recycling

GEA supplied the centrifuges that are essential to the process of extracting the biopolymer from the Nereda® granular sludge at the Kaumera production plant.

Carbon Capture (CCUS)

GEA provides end-to-end Carbon Capture Solutions, from waste heat recovery and gas pre-treatment to CO2 capture, conditioning, liquefaction, or conversion into CO2-based products.

Our on-demand Webinars

Watch our Expert Talks for insights into GEA’s ongoing work in process technology. Explore topics such as process optimisation, energy use, emissions-related challenges and sustainability considerations in specific industrial applications.