INNOVATION | PET
is part of a wave of innovation that’s needed to help usher in a new era of recycling going beyond tackling what is easy and beginning to recycle what isn’t,” Bangaru said. “By advancing beyond tradi- tional methods, we can redefine our relationship with plastic, ensuring a more sustainable future for communities and the environment alike.” Through a combination of its patented Micro-
Above:
Eastman has developed methanolysis technology which can be used on hard-to-recycle waste streams
to be implemented by all member states. We urgently need the two pieces of legislation to be harmonised so member states, recyclers, and brand owners, know where they are. If Europe wants to deliver a circular economy for packaging, PET recycling companies must have clarity and be confident in moving ahead with investments.” If regulation is hampering progress in PET
recycling’s development, this is partly counterbal- anced by innovation from actors in the rPET arena. Technology and materials companies have been hard at work, motivated by the potential to expand rPET further, and pursuing their goals via two main routes: chemical recycling and mechanical recycling.
Chemical recycling “Mechanical recycling excels at processing clear single-use plastics like water bottles, but only addresses a small fraction of total plastic waste,” said Sandeep Bangaru, Vice President, Circular Economy Platforms at Eastman Chemical. “PET and polyester see minimal recycling, with only 23% of PET packaging processed mechanically [and] calls for innovative recycling solutions have intensified as part of a broader approach to recycling. Some critics say chemical recycling causes more hazards than it helps, but not all chemical recycling is the same. Effective new technologies should convert waste into new plastic products rather than fuel, complement mechanical recycling, be environmentally superior to fossil fuel production, and allow independent scrutiny.” Eastman’s methanolysis technology is one
example attempting to fill gaps left by mechanical recycling. Its facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, US, is the world’s largest methanolysis plant, processing 227,000 tonnes/yr, while a planned second facility in Longview, Texas, is set to double capacity. “With minimal projected costs, Eastman’s new technology
32 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | March/April 2025
wave Assisted DEpolymerisation (MADE) process, new facilities, and strategic alliances, GR3N says it has advanced PET recycling significantly during the last 18 months, and illustrated the point by open- ing a second demonstration plant in northern Italy in March 2024. The technology it uses breaks down PET into monomers, ethylene glycol (MEG), and terephthalic acid (TPA), which can then be re-poly- merised using microwave-assisted alkaline hydroly- sis. The technology can manage PET purities as low as 70%, according to the company. In 2023 GR3N signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Intecsa Industrial to create a joint venture with the goal of building a first-of-its- kind manufacturing plant in Spain. In October 2024, the project was awarded a grant of up to €35m from the EU Innovation Fund. The engineering, procure- ment, and construction (EPC) phase is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2025, with operations expected to start at the end of 2027. “This is an important step for GR3N, and a clear signal that our technology is solid enough to move to the industrial scale”, said Maurizio Crippa, CEO of GR3N. Swiss company DePoly claims it is redefining
how PET and polyester waste is managed. Its patented technology breaks down polyester into PTA and MEG, creating raw materials for PET which it says are identical to their oil-based counterparts. By mid-2025, the company plans to inaugurate its showcase facility in Monthey, Switzerland, marking a significant step in the company’s evolution. “Over the past three years, we have rigorously optimised our process, testing over a hundred feedstock combinations to ensure efficiency and quality,” said Bardiya Valizadeh, CTO and co-founder of DePoly. “This facility will demonstrate how our technology can scale to meet global demand.”
Partnerships DePoly is working with industry leaders in various sectors, including: Swiss outdoor clothing brand Odlo, which it collaborated with on a proof-of-con- cept project to convert waste fabrics into virgin- quality recycled PET; and PTI, which it worked with to develop a closed-loop rPET bottle. It says these projects illustrate the advantages of bringing together several partners across the value chain.
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: EASTMAN
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