Dow says its progress in the United States and Europe will enable it to produce circular polymers from materials previously considered non-recyclable, adding that it is currently seeking third-party certification for product insurance for its customers.

New advancements include a partnership with Fuenix Ecogy Group, with the companies agreeing to scale up production of circular plastics with the construction of a second factory in Weert, the Netherlands. He adds that the additional plant will apparently turn 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste into pyrolysis oil feedstock, which in turn will be used to produce new circular plastic.

In addition, Dow has finalized an agreement with Gunvor Petroleum Rotterdam to purify pyrolysis oil feedstocks derived from plastic waste. The purification process, which is necessary to ensure that the pyrolysis oil feedstocks are of sufficient quality to produce new polymers, will provide Dow with a feedstock ready for cracking.

At the same time, Dow announced a multi-year agreement with Texas-based New Hope Energy, which will also supply Dow with raw materials for the production of circular plastics in North America.

Dow also says it is on track to receive International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) for each of its major European and US sites. To obtain certification, an external audit must be conducted to ensure that product supply chains are fully traceable and that the company and its suppliers are committed to adopting sustainable development practices.

According to Dow, these advancements complement Dow’s partnership with Mura Technology, which will see the company scale up Mura’s new Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution (HydroPRS) technology with a plant in Teesside, UK, which would be the first line of 20,000 tons per year. The plant is expected to be operational in 2023.

Dow says its new advancements are intended to enable currently non-recyclable plastics – including flexible plastics used in packaging, which are typically incinerated or sent to landfill – to be recycled into plastics that perform the same as virgin derived plastics. of fossil fuel-based raw materials.

Diego Donoso, President of Dow Packagaing and Specialty Plastics, comments: “The market places a high value on circularity and Dow is innovating to meet the huge unmet demand for circular and low carbon polymers.

“Dow continues to collaborate on cutting-edge technologies to enable the future we envision – the sustainable and resource-efficient production of circular plastics – to preserve the enormous environmental benefits of plastics, including the critical role plastics play in reducing carbon emissions. “

The company aims to deliver its initial supply of fully circular polymers to its customers in 2022.