Major chemicals company INEOS and recycling technology firm PLASTIC ENERGY have announced plans to build a advanced plastic recycling facility.
The new facility is expected to be opened in 2023. It hasn’t been announced as yet where the plant will be situated, but would be expected to be in a country where the businesses operate currently.
Advanced recycling technology will convert the plastic back to its molecules with the resulting material then used in INEOS crackers to replace oil-based materials.
Trials have already been completed using PLASTIC ENERGY’s current recycling process with the raw material turned into a virgin polymer at the INEOS cracker in Köln, Germany.
The plastics from this testing process will now be used by selected customers and brands to demonstrate the benefits of the process.
PLASTIC ENERGY’s thermal anaerobic conversion technology transforms unrecyclable plastics into a product it calls TACOIL. This raw product is intended to be used across INEOS sites to produce virgin plastics for use in medical, food, and automotive products plus pipes.
The technology means that it is possible to make a final product that is identical to virgin material made from oil-based materials.
INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe chief executive Rob Ingram said: “This represents the delivery of another important milestone in the INEOS sustainability strategy.
“To take plastic waste back to virgin plastic is the ultimate definition of recycling and will create a truly circular economy solution.
“This will enable us to offer another opportunity to customers to help them meet their pledges and commitments in this area.”
