Dutch Global chemical company LyondellBasell announced on 18 November its decision to move ahead with constructing an advanced recycling plant at its site in Wesseling, Germany. 

The commercial scale plant will deploy LyondellBasell’s proprietary MoReTec technology to convert pre-treated plastic waste into feedstock for new plastic production, the company stated in a press release. A final investment decision is set to be made end of 2023. 

German Joint Venture Source One Plastics will supply plastic waste feedstock to the plant. Source One is also planning to develop a facility to recycle the amount of plastic packaging waste generated by approximately 1.3 million German citizens per year. The plastic waste will consist of materials such as multi-layered food packaging items or mixed plastic containers that are typically not recycled today, the firm claims. 

“We are actively working to move the circular economy forward. Progressing our MoReTectechnology represents another step LyondellBasell is making to accelerate the development and implementation of scalable sustainable and circular technology,” said Yvonne van der Laan, LyondellBasell Executive Vice President, Circular and Low Carbon Solutions. 

“This high yield, differential technology will allow us to convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil and pyrolysis gas for use in our crackers as feedstock leading to the production of new plastic materials. Solid process residues can be re-used or consumed in other applications, making this technology an energy efficient, zero waste process for the recycling of plastic waste”.

The MoReTec advanced recycling plant is planned for end of 2025 with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year. The feedstock produced will be converted at the LyondellBasell Wesseling site into new CirculenRevive polymers for use in applications such as food packaging and healthcare products.