Global styrenics supplier INEOS Styrolution has launched a new project in collaboration with Norwegian waste transformation business Tomra and German recycling company Entsorgungsgesellschaft Niederrhein (EGN).
The project aims to convert post-consumer polystyrene (PS) waste into recycled PS, which can then be used for different food packaging applications.
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INEOS CEO Steve Harrington said: “Our three companies bring complementary expertise to this project, and because of this unique collaboration, we will be able to provide customers high-performing circular polystyrene produced at a significantly lower carbon footprint.
“Already, we are seeing high interest from customers and brand owners to secure long-term contracts.”
As part of this project, EGN, which is a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Krefeld, will be responsible for constructing a greenfield advanced mechanical recycling facility in Krefeld, Germany.
The facility is expected to start operating from mid-2025.
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By GlobalDataOnce open, the new plant will have an annual capacity of processing up to 40,000 tonnes of post-consumer PS waste, allowing INEOS to address the demands of its customers at a commercial scale.
EGN will sort and wash at the plant, while INEOS will work on the ‘super-cleaning’ purification process to ensure that the recycled products are in compliance with the European Food Safety Authority’s requirements and can be used for food contact applications.
EGN managing director Pierre Vincent said: “We share INEOS Styrolution’s vision of closing the loop for food-contact quality polystyrene. I expect the dairy industry to especially benefit from this new offering by allowing them to mechanically recycle from yoghurt pot to yoghurt pot creating a true circular economy for this material.”
Meanwhile, Tomra’s scope of work is to provide the required sorting technology and feedstock for this project.
Tomra Feedstock will also help in collecting post-consumer PS waste from used/disposed food packaging to deliver it to the Krefeld facility.
Tomra Feedstock managing director Jürgen Priesters said: “Polystyrene has the right composition to be recycled mechanically for food applications. The mission of Tomra Feedstock is to keep PS in true circularity.”
