LyondellBasell (LYB) has laid the foundation stone for its first catalytic chemical recycling plant at the Wesseling site. The new plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2026 and follows the company's strategy of building a profitable business unit for Circular & Low Carbon Solutions.
The plant, in which the company's own MoReTec-technology from LyondellBasell is used, the be the first single-line chemical recycling plant on an industrial scale and is intended to provide insights into the further scaling of this technology. The plant will convert pre-treated, mixed plastics into starting material for the production of new plastics, which will be marketed under the LYB CirculenRevive are sold. These polymers complement the company's range of mechanically recycled polymers made from renewable raw materials, which are sold under the brand names CirculenRecover and CirculenRenew can be marketed.
„With investments like these, we are creating new solutions and responding to the growing demand from our customers and society for more sustainable products. The new plant has the potential to convert hard-to-recycle, processed mixed plastics from 1.2 million German citizens into raw materials for the manufacture of new products. And this is just the first plant, we are already working on our future plants. MoReTec-systems.“
Peter Vanacker, CEO of LYB
LYB assumes that the MoReTec-technology will help to gradually switch from the use of traditional fossil raw materials to circular resources. In addition, the use of catalysts reduces the required energy input and greenhouse gas emissions and also serves as a blueprint for future investments.
Vanacker also called for better political support for European industry. „We need competitive structures in Europe again and a policy that favours the market ramp-up for sustainable and circular products. What is needed are clear, reliable framework conditions that extend over 20 years, to ensure confidence in the necessary investments,“ said Vanacker and also recalled the Antwerp Declaration for an Industrial Deal, which he presented together with other business leaders to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in February of this year.
„North Rhine-Westphalia is the largest chemical centre in Germany - and one of the most innovative on the road to climate neutrality. We want to remain a strong industrial state and become climate-neutral at the same time. With the laying of the foundation stone for the LYB MoReTec-1, LyondellBasell is providing important and forward-looking impetus for a strong circular economy in the plastics and chemicals industry. Only together can we succeed in strengthening North Rhine-Westphalia as a centre of research and industry and expanding our leading position in the field of chemical recycling. To achieve this, the chemical industry in particular finally needs better framework conditions, both in Europe and at federal level.“
Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
