Active projects
The following projects are currently advancing through GIC’s working groups, each with a defined pathway to spin-out.
Circular Municipal Solid Waste
Map circular loops in the municipal solid waste (MSW) value chain by identifying the best recycling technologies and channeling waste into high-value circular products.
PFAS Destruction in Process Water
Identify, test and pilot the most effective, technically feasible & economically viable technologies to destruct short-chained PFAS commonly found in process water.
Sustainable Biomass Sourcing
Identify the best sources of second-generation sustainable biomass and the best conversion methods to create biobased chemicals and ensure valuable, quality end products.
Sustainable Methanol
Evaluate attractiveness to jointly develop a waste gasification–based sustainable methanol supply chain, assess preferred region, technologies, capacity and business model.
The model in action
In 2025, Sustainable Olefins spun out of GIC — taken forward independently by the member companies involved. The Automotive Plastics Circularity project completed its first phase and moved into a second, progressing from technical feasibility to economic viability. Two different outcomes. Two different outcomes. Both a demonstration of what GIC can deliver.
Automotive Plastics Circularity
The Global Impact Coalition Automotive Plastics Circularity pilot comprised of eight global leaders in the chemical and recycling industries—BASF, Covestro, LG Chem, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, SABIC, SUEZ, and Syensqo. This groundbreaking pilot addressed the critical challenge of recycling plastics from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) by optimizing the dismantling, shredding and sorting processes, gaining access to specific polymer feedstocks for the chemical industry to increase recycling.
Sustainable Olefins
The GIC announces a spin-off structure to advance its Sustainable Olefins project. Starting with a feasibility study, this marks the first step toward exploring a new methanol-based route to electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF) and low-carbon chemicals in Europe.
A group of GIC member companies have joined forces to evaluate the technical and economic potential of using methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technology as a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil-based production processes.
Direct Conversion research collaboration with ETH Zurich Scientists
This is a strategic research collaboration with scientists from ETH Zurich and five GIC member companies: BASF, Clariant, Covestro, LyondellBasell, and SUEZ. The aim of this collaboration is to explore synergies between traditional chemical processes and emerging technologies that convert waste into circular chemicals, specifically focusing on the direct conversion of waste into chemicals in a more sustainable approach. Direct conversion is a promising technology that transforms complex waste streams into valuable C2+ chemical compounds—such as ethylene and propylene—through gasification.
Earlier projects — from our WEF origins
The experience and relationships built through the Low Carbon Emitting Technologies (LCET) initiative at the World Economic Forum, laid the foundation for what GIC has become. The projects below reflect that track record from the earliest days.
The R&D Hub for Plastic Waste Processing
The R&D Hub works to develop new technologies (with low TRL) for plastic waste processing with a lower carbon footprint and greater levels of polymer recycling. This private sector-driven project addresses the real-life technical challenges of plastic waste processing, working on problems encountered in both mechanical and chemical recycling routes. The first four projects focus on sensing, polymer/inorganics separation at mm and µm-scale, and enhanced solvolysis for composite recycling. The project is supported by BASF, Covestro, Dow, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, SABIC and Syensqo.
Since its creation, the R&D Hub is managed by our partner TNO. Learn more here. Listen to a WEF Radio Davos podcast on the recycling challenges we are working to address here.
The electrically heated steam cracker furnace
This is a collaboration between member companies BASF and SABIC with engineering firm Linde. Construction of the world’s first demonstration plant for large-scale electrically heated steam cracker furnaces is in full swing. By using electricity from renewable sources instead of natural gas, the new technology has the potential to drastically reduce carbon emissions of one of the most energy-intensive production processes in the chemical industry by at least 90% compared to technologies commonly used today.
Find out more from Global Impact Coalition members BASF and SABIC.