GIC, ETH Zurich, and industry partners explore plastic waste gasification to produce syngas, advancing circular, net-zero chemical production.
The Global Impact Coalition (GIC), a CEO-led initiative focused on guiding the chemical sector toward net-zero emissions, has announced a strategic research collaboration with ETH Zurich and five of its member companies: BASF, Clariant, Covestro, LyondellBasell, and Suez. This partnership aims to investigate the technical viability and environmental implications of transforming complex waste streams directly into chemical feedstocks through gasification.
Plastic waste gasification involves converting plastics into syngas, a mixture primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In this process, plastics are exposed to high temperatures, typically ranging from 500 to 1,300 degrees Celsius, in the presence of a gasifying agent such as air, steam, or oxygen. This thermal treatment breaks down the molecular structure of the plastic, producing syngas that can subsequently be used to generate fuels, electricity, or other chemical products. The process also leaves behind solid residues like ash or char.
The collaboration plans to further process the syngas into key chemical compounds such as ethylene and propylene, which serve as essential building blocks in the production of plastics, detergents, coatings, and textiles. Researchers at ETH Zurich, Switzerland’s leading science university, will perform environmental and techno-economic analyses of the gasification process. These assessments will help determine the feasibility of a proof-of-concept and identify optimal conditions for any potential pilot-scale deployment.
Although gasification of plastic waste is an established concept, significant challenges remain. These include high capital costs, process efficiency, and consistency of feedstock quality. The Ebara-Ube Process (EUP), introduced by Japan-based Ube Industries and Ebara Corporation in 2000, was the first technology deployed at commercial scale. Charlie Tan, CEO of GIC, emphasized, “Our collaboration with ETH Zurich scientists represents a significant step toward realizing a circular and net-zero chemical industry. By leveraging cutting-edge research and industry expertise, we aim to explore scalable solutions that address both environmental and economic challenges.”
The research initiative will focus on tackling unresolved technical issues in the conversion of waste to chemicals. Key areas of study include managing highly heterogeneous waste streams with variable contamination levels, integrating novel circular feedstocks into existing petrochemical value chains, and optimizing gasification parameters—such as temperature, gasifying agents, and reactor design—for efficient syngas production and downstream C2+ olefins.
By combining the practical knowledge of industry leaders with ETH Zurich’s technical expertise, GIC intends to develop a comprehensive understanding of both the potential and limitations of gasification technologies. Richard Haldimann, Chief Strategy & Technology Officer at Clariant, noted, “This partnership demonstrates how collaboration between science and industry can drive meaningful progress toward a circular future. Direct conversion technology allows us to transform everyday waste into valuable chemical ingredients, reducing reliance on fossil resources and closing the production loop.”
In addition, GIC recently launched the GIC Innovation Ecosystem, an initiative designed to connect start-ups, research organizations, technology developers, and academic institutions with leading chemical companies. This program aims to foster early-stage innovation that supports a more sustainable and circular chemical industry.
