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Yoghurt pots to be turned back into yoghurt pots at new Plastics2Chemicals plant

 

A brand-new plant for the advanced recycling of polystyrene (PS) and polyolefin (PO) is opening in the port of Antwerp. The plant is unique in Europe, as new raw materials will be produced there that can be reused in the food sector.

Circularity is a challenge for all plastics, but especially for PS and PO. The Plastics2Chemicals technology makes it possible to turn that material into recyclate with a quality and purity equivalent to new material. As a result, less new raw material needs to be used.

Paul De Bruycker, CEO of Indaver

The opening of the plant comes at a time when many companies are looking for solutions to meet the ambitious recycling targets in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Among other things, this states that new packaging must contain more recycled material, which has so far not always been possible for all types of recycled plastic from mechanical recycling.

Both Fost Plus in Belgium and CITEO in France supply sorted packaging material for recycling. In Belgium, for example, this means yoghurt pots, meat trays, mushroom trays, film and bags, which are collected via the blue bag and can therefore be turned back into pots, film and bags. Trinseo, INEOS Styrolution and TotalEnergies will further process the recycled material.

The project represents an investment of €60 million, and the first material will roll off the proverbial belt by the end of 2024. Plastics2Chemicals has an initial capacity of 26,000 tonnes per year; this will gradually increase to 65,000 tonnes per year by 2028.