Henkel launches a global call to seek innovation for recycling silicone cartridges

In collaboration with ChileGlobal Ventures, the venture capital arm of Fundación Chile, Henkel Chile has launched the global initiative ‘Seal the Cycle’ that aims to find technological solutions for plastic waste. Scope of the initiative are targeted innovation for separating High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) from silicone waste to enable the recycling of cartridges that cannot be reprocessed nowadays. With ‘Seal the Cycle’ Henkel is calling on startups, SMEs, large companies and research centers around the world, to technologically solve this challenge of separating plastic from silicone waste.

“To further drive a circular economy, we need to find suitable solutions for cartridges that still cannot be included into the recycling process”, explained Roberto Pavez, Regional Development Manager for Latin America at Henkel. “The problem with these plastic packaging is the existence of silicone residues in the used cartridges which cannot be separated with the usual methods of the recyclers today. At Henkel, we are deeply committed to find solutions to eliminate plastic waste. For this reason, we initiated ‘Seal the Cycle’ as a concrete action to find ways to change the packaging life cycle of cartridges with a positive impact on the environment.”

The applications for the project will be open from November 3 to December 12 under www.sealthecycle.com. The winning project will be awarded with 20,000 Euros and will become part of a pilot project in Chile with the goal to scale-up the solution to the global market of silicone sealants together with Henkel. Applications submitted to “Seal the Cycle” will be reviewed by experts from Henkel and the ChileGlobal Ventures Search and Selection team.

Andrés Mitnik, Corporate Venturing Director of ChileGlobal Ventures, added: “By promoting the transformation of the world towards a more sustainable development and seeking new ways for growth that help protecting our ecosystem while responding to the global climate change is a key imperative today. More and more companies around the world have realized that future growth will always depend on sustainability and the protection of the environment. Thus, we are pleased to collaborate with Henkel as global leader in the adhesives, sealants and functional coatings markets in the ‘Seal the Cycle’ initiative.