Ineos Styrolution and Recycling Technologies announce today the signing of a joint development agreement (JDA) to further advance the development of recycling of polystyrene in Europe. Both companies share the same goals to make plastics a sustainable material. This agreement recognises the commercial value of post-consumer plastic waste to prevent this important resource being incinerated or ending up in landfills.
Ineos Styrolution has extensive knowledge and expertise in polymer science and production and Recycling Technologies possesses extensive knowledge, technology and expertise in the area of building reactors, suitable to thermally recycle mixed plastics using pyrolysis.
Recycling Technologies has already completed a detailed research and trial process with Ineos Styrolution. This activity included scientific research and processing of polystyrene on Recycling Technologies’ Mark II test reactor producing excellent results. Both companies will now further advance this depolymerisation solution based on Recycling Technologies’ fluidised bed technology, currently used for mixed plastics to adapt it for the commercial recycling of polystyrene.
Ineos Styrolution and Recycling Technologies believe depolymerisation has the potential to close the loop, creating a circular economy for polystyrene making the material a more valuable polymer. This recycled polystyrene has the potential to meet the high specifications demanded for food packaging regulations making it attractive to the food industry.