Germany-based plastics company Covestro held an event on Friday 24 June in Cologne to preview its stand and developments that will be on show at K 2016 in Düsseldorf in October.
Focusing on innnovation and sustainability goals, Patrick Thomas, CEO of Covestro said it would be the first time the company would be showing at the plastics trade fair, the K Show, since it had re-launched as Covestro from its previous embodiment as Bayer MaterialScience AG.
Thomas emphasized the company is about making the world brighter place and unveiled its colorful circular K Show stand reminiscent of the Covestro logo.
At the event the company revealed its sustainability goals for 2025 saying that by that point it aimed for:
- 80 percent of R&D spent on sustainability projects.
- 100 percent sustainable suppliers.
- Reduce specific C02 emissions by 50 percent.
- Reach 10 million people in underserved markets through business solutions.
- To get the most value out of carbon employed.
Thomas said: “Our five new targets clearly demonstrate how much sustainable development will drive our business in the future. We are embedding sustainability at the heart of our strategy and anchoring it firmly throughout our entire company. At the same time we aim to assist others throughout the entire value-added chain to the end consumer. Together we can master the major challenges of our time and make the world a brighter place, which is both the vision and purpose of Covestro.”
The company recently inaugurated its first commercial-scale plant to produce polycarbonate polyol from carbon dioxide (CO2), at its Dormagen site, near Cologne, and says it looking at applications for CO2-based products in the automotive, sport and leisure and comfort sectors.
Also highlighted at the event were the company's developments in 3-D printing, electric cars and its solar impulse solar aircraft, which had just finished its 70 hour transatlantic flight landing safely in Seville, Spain.
Looking at 3-D printing, the company mentioned its new laboratory for 3-D printing had recently opened at its headquarters in Leverkusen, and that it was developing next generation liquid resins for industrial additive manufacturing, that would allow gradient materials to be created.
At K 2016, Covestro says it will also be unveiling a new concept for designing electric vehicles, including wrap-around glazing made of transparent polycarbonate, lighting from holographic films, and new developments in raw materials for coatings and adhesives.
Thomas was keen to point out at the event how Covestro was helping increase the economic situation of people often revered to as low on the pyramid by working on projects for affordable housing, agricultural efficiency storage, and sanitation solutions. He said: "These are the challenges faced by a very large number of people throughout the world."
Thomas stated looking back on previous K events it was clear that: "When we talk about innovation we talk about innovation that is going to be delivered."
