France-based company TotalEnergies has announced its plans to build a new mechanical recycling facility to contribute to the circular economy of plastic waste in the country.

The recycling unit will be established at the Grandpuits zero-crude platform site, south-east of Paris, France.

This facility is expected to commence operations in 2026.

Once open, the Grandpuits recycling plant will help in the production of approximately 30,000 tonnes of value-added compounds, comprising up to 50% recycled plastic content, annually.

This recycled polymer will mainly target the packaging market, especially the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry.

Apart from this new mechanical recycling unit, TotalEnergies is also working to establish a dedicated centre to provide technical assistance to its customers.

The centre will further support the development of new products, as well as deliver relevant support for the commercialisation of the new hybrid compounds range.

TotalEnergies Refining & Chemicals president Bernard Pinatel said: “This investment is great news for the local area and represents another milestone for the zero-crude platform at Grandpuits.

“The investment in this plastic recycling unit is entirely consistent with the company’s ambition to grow the circular economy and will contribute to the objective of reaching one million tons of circular polymers by 2030.

“By developing all these projects at the Grandpuits zero-crude platform, the company can confirm it will maintain 250 jobs at the site, honouring the commitments that it made in September 2020.”

The latest decision also builds on the investment announcements made by TotalEnergies in June this year.

In its previous announcement, the company confirmed doubling its sustainable aviation fuel production and building a biomethane production unit.

In 2022, TotalEnergies finalised an agreement with New Hope Energy to build an advanced recycling project in Texas, US.