SABIC and Plastic Energy construct advanced recycling unit for certified circular polymers
02 Feb 2021 --- SABIC and Plastic Energy are constructing a “world-first” advanced recycling unit in Geleen, the Netherlands, upscaling the production of certified circular polymers derived from used plastics.
The recycling unit is currently in the engineering and construction stage and expected to become operational in the second half of 2022.
The project is being realized under a 50-50 joint venture called Spear (SABIC Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling) and executed with a Top Sector Energy Subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands.
The circular polymers form part of SABIC’s Trucircle portfolio, spanning design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified circular products from feedstock recycling of used plastic and certified renewables products from bio-based feedstock.
SABIC is pioneering a growing list of innovations within its Trucircle portfolio, including a multi-barrier casing for meat products, Schwarz vegetable film bags, Melitta tea capsules, Mars pet food packaging, Beiersdorf cosmetics packaging, and Estée Lauder beauty tubes.
The new recycling unit is expected to be operational in 2022.“One of the main benefits of feedstock recycling – otherwise known as chemical recycling – is that it can take typically difficult to recycle, mixed-used plastic and recycle it back to the original polymer to create new plastics with the same characteristics and high quality as virgin resin,” Mark Vester, circular economy leader at SABIC, tells PackagingInsights.
“By forging new value chain partnerships to transform previously unrecyclable plastic into a valuable material, the packaging industry will ultimately help to create a circular economy for plastics and protect our planet’s natural resources.”
Upscaled polymer production
SABIC, a global leader in diversified chemicals, has worked with Plastic Energy, a pioneer in chemical plastics recycling, since early 2019.
As part of the project’s market foundation stage, the partners collaborated with leading customers and converters to produce and commercialize certified circular polymers.
The new unit will enable SABIC to significantly upscale the production of certified circular polymers, providing customers with greater access to materials recycled, repurposed and produced to protect natural resources while acting as a drop-in solution.
SABIC’s certified circular polymers are produced using Plastic Energy’s advanced recycling technology to convert low quality, mixed, and used plastic, otherwise destined for incineration or landfill, into Tacoil.
Plastic Energy’s advanced recycling technology converts low quality, mixed and used plastic into Tacoil.
Fossil material alternatives
The Tacoil produced in the new commercial unit will be used by SABIC in its production process as an alternative to traditional fossil materials to create new circular polymers.
“Advancements in this pioneering project take us one step closer to driving the change needed to become a circular global industry,” comments Fahad Al Swailem, vice president, PE and Sales at SABIC.
‘“We have overcome significant external, global challenges to reach this important milestone and remain fully committed to closing the loop on used plastic. We are continuing to collaborate on an unprecedented level with our partners upstream and downstream to achieve this.”
“It has been an exciting journey in making our vision of building advanced recycling plants come to life … we have worked jointly with SABIC toward our common goal of making plastics more sustainable and moving toward a more circular economy for plastics,” adds Carlos Monreal, founder and CEO of Plastic Energy.
By Joshua Poole
