Welcome to the Plastics Weekly, NEO’s regular news monitoring of the plastics industry.
This week’s highlights:
- Chemicals producer LyondellBasell Industries and thermal waste treatment firm EEW Energy are exploring a partnership to recycle plastics from incineration waste streams. The proposed collaboration could construct waste pre-sorting facilities at or near EEW incineration plants in Germany to remove plastics from waste streams that are sent for incineration. The companies aim to close the loop on plastics that are currently sent for incineration and avoid fossil emissions associated with combusting these materials, according to their statement. (Reuters)
- Saudi Arabian petrochemical giant SABIC expects to complete its first chemical recycling plant in Europe in the fourth quarter and is also seeking new partners in Asia to promote wider adoption of recycled plastics. The plant, which will have up to 20,000 tonne/year capacity, is expected to use mixed plastic waste as a feedstock source. SABIC, which is 70%-owned by energy giant Saudi Aramco, aims to process 1 million tonnes/year of plastics by 2030 to produce renewable polymers under its TRUCIRCLE portfolio. (ICIS)
- Is cellulose film the solution for sustainable food packaging? In November, a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment Programme on the New Plastics Global Economy Commitment, warned its 2025 goal of 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging was becoming unattainable. Now, Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre has announced it has invested €1.5 million into a CelluloseFilms pilot facility, which is ready to scale up production of renewable cellulose alternatives to plastic films. VTT scientists have developed a new material which is designed to replace the plastic film used in most modern food packaging and make packaging more sustainalble. (Forbes)