Technological watch

• Recycling Technologies’ chemical recycling solution, currently used for mixed plastics to be developed to recycle polystyrene
• The project’s aim is to create a deeper circular economy for polystyrene

INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, and Recycling Technologies, a specialist plastic recycling technology provider announce today the signing of a joint development agreement (JDA) to further advance the development of recycling of polystyrene in Europe. Both companies share the same goals to make plastics a sustainable material. This agreement recognises the commercial value of post-consumer plastic waste to prevent this important resource being incinerated or ending up in landfills.

INEOS Styrolution has extensive knowledge and expertise in polymer science and production backed by its advanced technology and process.

Recycling Technologies possesses extensive knowledge, technology and expertise in the area of building reactors, suitable to thermally recycle mixed plastics using pyrolysis.

Recycling Technologies has already completed a detailed research and trial process with INEOS Styrolution. This activity included scientific research and processing of polystyrene on Recycling Technologies’ Mark II test reactor producing excellent results. Both companies will now further advance this depolymerisation solution based on Recycling Technologies’ fluidised bed technology, currently used for mixed plastics to adapt it for the commercial recycling of polystyrene.

INEOS Styrolution and Recycling Technologies believe depolymerisation has the potential to close the loop, creating a circular economy for polystyrene making the material a more valuable polymer. This recycled polystyrene has the potential to meet the high specifications demanded for food packaging regulations making it attractive to the food industry.

Sven Riechers, Vice President, Business Management, Standard Products, EMEA at INEOS Styrolution comments: “Recycling Technologies’ fluidised bed technology is a very promising technology to drive our joint agenda forward. I am looking forward to a fruitful collaboration in the interest of the environment, our customers and the consumers.”

Adrian Griffiths, CEO & Founder of Recycling Technologies Ltd., adds: “We are delighted to enter this partnership with INEOS Styrolution to develop a commercial solution to recycle polystyrene. This partnership creates the basis for a more circular economy in polystyrene allowing its users to achieve their challenging recycling targets set by all their stakeholders. To date we have focused on the recycling of mixed plastic waste, this initiative will allow us to develop and expand our feedstock recycling technology solutions to address a new and important market, recycling polystyrene.”

About Recycling TechnologiesUK-based company, Recycling Technologies, is on a mission to accelerate the evolution of plastic into a more sustainable material. Currently, 88% of the plastic used in the world is either buried, burned or leaked into the environment[1]. This means that the world recycles only 12% of the 359 million tons of plastic produced each year[2].

Recycling Technologies has developed an innovative technology, the RT7000, which turns hard-to-recycle plastic such as films, bags, laminated plastics into an oil, called Plaxx®, used as a feedstock for new plastic production. The RT7000 is modular and small-scale, designed to fit easily onto existing waste treatment and recycling sites, providing a scalable solution to recycle waste plastic anywhere in the world..

[1] McKinsey&Co – How plastics-waste recycling could transform the chemical industry

[2] Plastics Europe – Plastics the facts 2019

About INEOS StyrolutionINEOS Styrolution is the leading global styrenics supplier, with a focus on styrene monomer, polystyrene, ABS Standard and styrenic specialties. With world-class production facilities and more than 90 years of experience, INEOS Styrolution helps its customers succeed by offering innovative and sustainable best-in-class solutions, designed to give them a competitive edge in their markets, and at the same time, help make the circular economy for styrenics a reality. The company provides styrenic applications for many everyday products across a broad range of industries, including automotive, electronics, household, construction, healthcare, packaging and toys/sports/leisure. In 2019, sales were at 5 billion euros. INEOS Styrolution employs approximately 3,600 people and operates 20 production sites in ten countries.

Source: INEOS Styrolution, press release, 2020-07-35.