JULY 20258COVESTRO INDIA TEAMS UP WITH CSIR-NCL TO INNOVATE POLYURETHANE RECYCLINGPOWER MINISTRY UNVEILS RS 1,000 CR PUSH FOR ENERGY-SMART MSMEsCovestro (India) Private Limited and the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a major step of adapting circular economy principles to curb the increasing problem of polyurethane waste in India. The collaborative effort is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program was launched by Covestro and aims at creating industrial-scale chemical recycling solutions that resolve the problem of hard-to-recycle polyurethanes.In a significant initiative to support energy efficiency while lowering energy costs, India's Power Ministry has launched a Rs 1,000 crore scheme to drive transformation of the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector with the goal of transitioning these MSMEs into energy-smart units.The scheme, called ADEETIE (Assistance in Deploying Energy Efficient Technologies in Industries & Establishments), will be implemented over a three-year period, focusing on The polyurethane materials have gained importance in many industries such as automotive, furniture, electronics, and construction. Regardless, they are challenging to get rid of at the end of their lives because of their cross-linked structures. A majority of this plastic waste is disposed of in landfills. The Covestro and NCL collaboration aims to invent sustainable solutions in upcycling by keeping the value of material without any adverse effect on the environment.Avinash Bagdi, Director and Head of Sales at Covestro (India), said, "This collaboration highlights our commitment to sustainable innovation. It aligns with Covestro's vision of achieving full circularity by developing smart ways to reuse polyurethane, rather than discard it. We're actively working to build a future where waste becomes a resource."Dr. Ashish Lele, Director of NCL, added, "We're thrilled to partner with Covestro on this important initiative. Our research into both traditional and electrochemical upcycling techniques is designed to address the limitations of today's recycling technologies."The alliance brings together the industrial experience of Covestro and research competency of NCL to invention of the next generation of recycling technologies. This project will become a standard of dealing with polyurethane waste in India and help the country to overcome the shift towards a greener plastic economy. some of the most energy-intensive sectors across the country. The Rs 875 crore scheme provides MSMEs with the ability to use loans with the helpful 5% subsidy interest to micro and small units and 3% subsidies to medium units. The remaining fund will provide technical and implementative support through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and an additional Rs 50 crore will be allocated to conduct energy audits.The program starts with 60 industrial clusters in Phase 1, with 100 more to come. In total, there are 14 key sectors, including textiles, food processing, chemicals, forging, foundry, ceramics, and others. The scheme provides end-to-end support from audits through to implementation, helping MSMEs reduce their operational costs, enhance productivity, and achieve clean energy targets.Expected to mobilise a total investment of Rs 9,000 crore including Rs 6,750 crores in MSME loans, ADEETIE is much more than simply a subsidy; it is part of a process to provide energy resilience and sustainable growth for India's industrial ecosystem. The growing global competition and volatility in energy prices means that this programme can provide Indian MSMEs with a valuable advantage in all aspects of efficiency and economics. TOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIES
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