Borealis invests €49M to scale next-gen PP production in Germany
Key takeaways
- Borealis has invested €49 million to expand the production of Borstar Nextension PP at its Burghausen site in Germany.
- The investment supports a shift toward high-performance monomaterial PP solutions.
- Borstar Nextension PP is positioned to help packaging brands comply with EU PPWR targets, including the goal of fully recyclable packaging by 2030.
Borealis has announced a €49 million (US$57.44 million) investment to scale up production of Borstar Nextension PP at its manufacturing site in Burghausen, Germany.
Borstar Nextension technology facilitates material substitution in complex multilayer structures by integrating a tailored combination of performance properties into a single PP material. It is said to support circularity, weight reduction, and enhance overall performance.
The investment aims to expand commercial production of next-generation single-site PP (ssPP) grades that can deliver enhanced purity, processability, and performance, supporting customers in sectors including packaging, healthcare, mobility, and fibers.
Craig Arnold, executive vice president for Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions, and Base Chemicals at Borealis, says: “By scaling up Borstar Nextension PP production, we empower our customers to stay ahead in a rapidly changing regulatory and market landscape.”
“It’s another example of our commitment to increase the availability of innovative, recyclable polymer materials suitable for applications across multiple industries.”
Supporting design for circularity
Borealis’ investment aims to support the company’s transition to high-performance monomaterial PP solutions.
The product aims to enable brand owners and converters in the packaging industry to comply with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), including the target of achieving fully recyclable packaging by 2030.
Last month, Borealis and Borouge launched Recleo, a brand for mechanically recycled polyolefins suited for polyolefin applications. The brand combines post-industrial and post-consumer recyclates and compounds into one portfolio.
Borealis also partnered with Project Electro to develop electrified thermochemical processes. The partnership aims to transform mixed and hard-to-recycle waste, including multilayer packaging and contaminated plastics, into “high-purity” olefins such as ethylene and propylene.
