‘PVC is one of the most recycled polymers in Europe, but reaching full circularity remains a complex challenge for our industry.’
Ineos Inovyn has started up two PVC pilot scale recycling plants at its site in Jemeppe-sur-Sambre, Belgium, which is also home to the company’s main R&D centre. The recycling plants are part of the company’s ‘Project Circle’ initiative, which aims to commission a unit with 40,000 tonne/year PVC recycling capacity by 2030.
Ineos Inovyne notes that across Europe some 30% of PVC waste is mechanically recycled. Project Circle will focus on the remaining waste, with the development of dissolution, pyrolysis and gasification technologies. The new units are based on the well established VinyLoop technology, and are designed to upgrade PVC dissolution technology to support the recycling of waste.
Ineos Inovyn CEO Geir Tuft said: ‘PVC is one of the most recycled polymers in Europe, but reaching full circularity remains a complex challenge for our industry. Project Circle is an ambitious step in developing advanced new solutions and supporting Europe’s green transition.’
Project Circle is a collaborative effort and includes two Belgian consortiums. The first is ‘CIRC-PVC’, which covers the entire chain from collection of PVC waste at construction and demolition sites to the production of PVC that does not have legacy additives.
The second consortium, ‘DISSOLV’, focuses on PVC waste that is combined with textiles – for example, in carpet and tarpaulin applications that currently cannot be recycled due to the presence of fibres and legacy additives. Members of this consortium include ExxonMobil.
Luc Castin, Ineos Inovyn sustainability manager added; ‘We need a thriving and competitive European plastic industry that allows us to increase investment and innovation in circularity and decarbonisation. The financial support of the Walloon and Flemish region to the consortium are vital to achieve this.’
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