What is Chemical Recycling?

Chemical recycling of plastic waste is vaunted as the solution to the problem of non-recyclable plastic waste, with the argument of circularity and virgin-like quality of the polymers obtained from the pyrolysis product. Many companies have developed experimental stage technologies but just a few have scaled up the process at commercial stage. There are notable technology variations between existing solutions, and not all of them are licensable.

Suitable Plastic Waste Feedstock for Pyrolysis

Strong requirements apply on the plastic waste feedstock, which then undergoes pyrolysis. The obtained pyoil is sent to the steam cracker after (optional) intermediate fractionation and hydrotreatment steps, and the renewable monomers formed during the craking process are then used in polymerisation plants to produce mass-balanced, sustainable polymers, which are certified as PCR polyethylene or polypropylene but with virgin quality.

Commercial Pyrolysis Technologies

We guide you through the full manufacturing value chain from plastic waste to PCR polymers, explaining the details of the mass balance, and dive into the comparison of existing, commercial pyrolysis technologies to help you with your decision making process of investing into circular technologies.