For its 200th anniversary, Baerlocher underlines its commitment to sustainability and the circular economy. But it is about more than that. Sustainable raw materials, production methods and materials, for example. And about reducing emissions to zero as an answer to the climate crisis. Baerlocher knows the requirements from processing to end-use applications and knows that if one wants to drive progress, one needs strong partners along the entire value-added cycle. Here in particular, it is important to be close to customers who are increasingly concerned with the recyclability and restabilization of their own products.

Since the 1990s, Baerlocher has been committed to the recycling of plastics and is opening up new business areas in the 21st century. Between 2019 and 2022, the entire group will be certified with EcoVadis, and CO2-optimized production of completely lead-free products will start in India in 2023. In terms of sustainability in the plastics sector, Baerlocher is also committed to the entire industry in associations such as the AGPU, the Plastic Recycling Association (USA) or the self-committed VinylPlus initiative.

Sustainability as a challenge and opportunity
In addition to CO2 optimization, the question of eliminating persistent organic compounds arises in PVC recycling. At the same time, it is about the longevity of plastics in use through to circular product design. The recycling of plastics increasingly also has concrete economic advantages, as it makes optimal use of resources. At the same time, based on scientific arguments, it is important to discuss the pros and cons of the use of plastics. There is no question: environmental problems in the world's oceans caused by plastic and disposable products are a disaster. However, they do not justify blanket judgements about plastics in many areas of application.

Environmental protection already enjoys priority under Dr Michael Rosenthal. This also includes the issue of reycling. In the 1980s, the technology was far from mature. A decade later, it is already clear: recycling is a central task for the entire industry and thus also for Baerlocher. But there is more to it than "just" recycling. From the 1970s to 1998, Baerlocher invested around 45 million DM in environmental protection facilities. Rosenthal also relies on the elaborate DIN EN ISO 14001 certification, which guarantees customers environmentally friendly processes. The new headquarter in Unterschleissheim is considered a model in 1998, as it has an almost wastewater-free production, exhaust air biofilters cleaned and includes the entire product life cycle.

New raw materials and technologies
In the 21st century, renewable raw materials are increasingly used, i.e. vegetable oils or animal fats. For example, 85 % of the raw materials used in SBU Speciality Additives (SPA) come from renewable sources. BAEROPHOB Eco CM/1, a water repellent for plaster applications in lime-cement-bound building materials, has been based on vegetable oil since 2008. Oleochemical SPA additives replace silicones, silanes and paraffins, thereby saving CO2. Baerlocher is also a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), whose SCCS certification Baerlocher received in 2015 for metallic soaps and stearic acids. Also in 2015, Baerlocher developed the Resin Stabilizer Technology RST. This allows the phosphite-free stabilization of polyethylene and polypropylene without compromising processability and colour retention. With BAEROPOL RST and the BAEROPOL T-BLENDS, Baerlocher also introduces its own product lines for recycled materials. Baerlocher thus offers a broad additive portfolio for recycled polymers.

Today, Baerlocher is actively involved in sustainability and the recycling business and, following its successes in Europe, is committed to high environmental standards, quality and pollutant-free alternatives worldwide. This has been reported on in its own sustainability reports since 2022. Baerlocher supports customers in using more recyclates or recycled materials in more demanding applications. With technical expertise and innovative additive solutions. That is why Baerlocher USA is hosting a forward-looking Recycling Summit with customers and business partners since 2022, for example. In the same year, the Lingen site is one of the pioneers to receive the "VinylPlus Supplier Certificate for PVC additives suppliers" for BAEROPAN and BAEROSTAB product lines. For the future, CEO Arne Schulle sees the greatest challenge in the transformation of the business to "actively drive the transformation of the plastics industry within the framework of the circular economy". So the 21st century presents us all with major challenges. Baerlocher develops solutions for these and, together with customers and partners worldwide, opens up new, forward-looking business fields.