LyondellBasell to build its first industrial-scale advanced recycling plant in Germany

LyondellBasell announced its final investment decision to build the company’s first industrial-scale catalytic advanced recycling demonstration plant at its Wesseling site, Germany. Construction is planned to be completed by the end of 2025.

The new recycling plant will be built at Wesseling site, Germany.

The new plant is expected to have an annual capacity of 50,000 tons and is designed to recycle the amount of plastic packaging waste generated by over 1.2 million German citizens per year.

Using LyondellBasell’s MoReTec technology, this advanced recycling plant can convert post-consumer plastic waste into feedstock for production of new plastic materials. It will close the gap for difficult to recycle plastics, such as mixed or flexible materials.

Source One Plastics, a joint venture of LyondellBasell and 23 Oaks Investments formed in October 2022, will supply the majority of sorted processed feedstock.

MoReTec technology to enhance circularity

The MoReTec technology produces pyrolysis oil and pyrolysis gas. Pyrolysis oil is a substitute for fossil-based materials used in polymer solution.

Typically, pyrolysis gas streams are consumed as a fuel. But with MoReTec technology, it enables the pyrolysis gas to be recovered as well, contributing to the production of polymer and displacing fossil-based feedstocks, which lowers direct CO2 emissions.

In addition, the proprietary catalyst technology lowers the process temperature, reduces energy consumption and improves yield. With lower energy consumption, the process can be powered by electricity, including electricity from renewable sources.