Advancing circular resource management across the value chain

Sika is committed to advancing a circular economy by improving how resources are sourced, used, and recovered across the value chain. As a materials-driven company, Sika recognizes that the selection and use of raw materials, product design, and end-of-life solutions play a critical role in reducing environmental impact and supporting the transition to more sustainable construction and industrial practices.

Improving Sika’s material efficiency through applying circular principles along the value chain is pivotal for Sika’s path to net zero. In addition, circularity principles are becoming increasingly compelling due to higher awareness and shifting demand toward more sustainable solutions among customers in construction and transportation markets.

Sika sources a wide range of raw materials, primarily virgin and non-renewable, which are transformed into high-performance products. Improving the sustainability of these resource inflows is a key lever for circularity. Sika focuses on:

  • Efficient use of raw materials through optimized formulations and processes
  • Increasing the use of secondary raw materials, such as recycled materials and industrial by-products
  • Exploring biological raw materials, specifically bio-based materials from plant-based sources, where technically and environmentally viable
  • Reducing cement content by integrating supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) into mortars and concrete solutions

Responsible material sourcing is supported by close supplier engagement and due diligence processes, including monitoring of conflict minerals and regulatory requirements.  

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Circularity is embedded in how Sika designs, develops, and brings products to market. Through durable, high-quality solutions, Sika helps extend product lifetimes, reduce material consumption, and enable reuse or recycling at end of life. Many Sika solutions support circularity beyond the company’s own operations by helping customers use recycled or alternative materials; reduce material and energy use in construction and industrial processes; and extend the service life of buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles.

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Circular innovation through product development

The principles of circular economy are fully integrated into Sika’s Product Creation Process (PCP) through the Sustainability Portfolio Management (SPM) framework. All new product developments are assessed against sustainability criteria early in the innovation process and again before market launch.
Within Strategy 2028, Sika aims to ensure that all new product developments are positively validated through SPM, reinforcing the link between performance, sustainability, and circularity.

SPM evaluates products from a 360° perspective, including: material efficiency and resource use; use of secondary and alternative raw materials; design for reuse, recycling, or recovery; packaging. This structured approach supports transparent decision-making and helps steer the product portfolio toward proven sustainability benefits.

Packaging and material loops

Packaging is a key element of circularity. Sika is working to reduce the environmental impact of packaging by increasing the use of recycled and recyclable materials; reducing packaging weight and volume; and improving design for reuse and recovery.

These efforts are driven by regulatory developments and customer expectations and are supported by supplier engagement initiatives such as the Sika Sustainable Packaging Challenge. This initiative allows Sika to collaborate with current and potential suppliers to drive innovative improvements in packaging sustainability. The challenge has been rolled out across all Sika regions and generated several promising proposals, including the introduction of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content to replace virgin materials in plastic films, aluminum/plastic cartridges, and pails. Other recurring ideas focused on improving recyclability through single-material paper bags and shifting from rigid to flexible plastic pails.

Closing the loop: recovery, recycling, and take-back 

Sika is actively developing solutions to close material loops and reduce waste, including:

  • Internal material recovery
  • Take-back programs for selected products, such as roofing membranes
  • Innovative approaches to plastics recycling and circular material flows

Through partnerships with industry, research institutions, and technology providers, Sika explores new ways to keep materials in use and reduces dependence on virgin resources.

Upstream value chain

Sika assesses suppliers’ contribution to resource efficiency and circularity, with a focus on reducing material use, improving recyclability, and increasing recycled content. Supplier engagement initiatives, such as the Sika Sustainable Packaging Challenge, encourage innovation in sustainable packaging solutions and support the transition toward more circular material flows.

Partnerships and collaboration

Collaboration is essential to advancing circularity. Sika works with suppliers, customers, universities, and industry partners to develop scalable circular solutions, from advanced recycling technologies to new manufacturing methods and sustainable product systems.

These partnerships help translate innovation into real-world applications and accelerate the transition toward circular construction and industrial markets.