CHEMICAL RECYCLING | INNOVATION
Partners push ahead in chemical recycling
Projects to bring chemical recycling into production are focusing not just on polyolefins, but also PLA, PET, tyre rubber and carbon black. Chris Saunders reports on recent developments
The rapid evolution of chemical recycling technolo- gies represents a major shift in waste management, according to industry players. By harnessing the potential of a range of non-mechanical processes, a transition towards a sustainable future where waste is a valuable resource is made more viable. “We at Dow consider advanced recycling to be a truly impactful technology [which can] help solve the problem of hard-to-recycle plastic waste in the environment,” said Manav Lahoti, Dow P&SP Global Sustainability Director, Olefins, Aromatics and Alternatives. “McKinsey & Co estimates that $40bn in investments are required to meet demand from advanced recycled plastics supply between 2020 and 2040. To meet that demand, Dow and other leaders in the plastics industry are investing in advanced recycling technologies and infrastruc- ture. Beyond the demand from brands, advanced recycling, once deployed at the necessary scale, can help prevent millions of tonnes of plastic from ending up in landfills or being incinerated, and is a crucial part of building a circular plastics economy.” Dow recently announced a supply agreement
with Freepoint Eco-Systems to expand chemical recycling capacity in the US. Dow will be the sole off-taker of circular feedstock from phase one of Freepoint Eco-System’s chemical recycling project
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
in Arizona. The company says that after further processing of the pyrolysis oil, the properties of these plastics will be the same as virgin materials and have the same performance capabilities, even in products with food grade approval. Given its expense and complexity, an ongoing
trend in chemical recycling is that of several companies coming together to pool specialist knowledge or resources. “Collaboration is a crucial and emerging facet of building advanced recycling capacity in the US and beyond,” Lahoti added. “Partnerships and agreements like those between Dow and Freepoint Eco-Systems provide a real- world example of how the industry can work together to build a progressive recycling system that converts waste into valuable resources.” Dow is one of the companies investing in Mura
Technology, which this year will open what it says is the world’s first commercial-scale Hydro-PRT recycling plant in Teesside, UK. The purpose-built facility will produce 20,000 tonnes/yr with room for significant expansion. Steve Mahon, Mura Technol- ogy’s CEO, said: “Our Hydro-PRT process is unlocking a new market for plastic waste, creating value, and keeping both plastic and carbon in circularity. The technology works alongside existing mechanical recycling to ensure no plastic types are
July/August 2024 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 25
Main image: The Carboliq process can recycle a wide range of materials in addition to polyolefins
IMAGE: CARBOLIQ
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