Elkem pilots recycling of silicones

The silicone producer Elkem says it has opened a pilot plant in Lyon, France, that depolymerizes silicone waste into monomers that can be turned into new silicones and oligomers that can be converted to other high-value products. Elkem says the process can reduce the carbon footprint of silicone production by 60–70% compared with the traditional process. The project was funded by the France 2030 investment program and the European Union’s NextGenerationEU fund.