matterr Secures €30M EU Grant for Polyester Recycling Plant
- matterr received a €30 million grant for a polyester recycling plant in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- The plant will have a 10,000-tonne annual capacity and start operations in 2027.
- The total project investment is approximately €63 million, with private capital support.
- The technology breaks down polyester waste into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
Project Overview
matterr has secured a €30 million grant from the “Produktives.NRW” funding program under the EFRE/JTF Program NRW 2021–2027. This funding will expedite the construction of a small-scale industrial chemical recycling plant in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with operations expected to commence in 2027. The facility will focus on recycling polyester for the packaging and textile markets.
Investment Details
The total investment for the project is approximately €63 million, combining public funding with private capital. The plant will have an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes of recycled polyester feedstock.
Technological Advancements
matterr's proprietary depolymerization technology operates under atmospheric pressure to break down mixed polyester waste, including textiles and multilayer packaging, into primary monomers: terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). These monomers can be purified and processed in existing polyester production facilities to create virgin-quality polymer, replacing petrochemical-based feedstocks.
Future Plans
The NRW plant will serve as a demonstration of industrial readiness and a model for future large-scale plants with capacities exceeding 100,000 tonnes annually. matterr plans to license its technology to global partners, facilitating rapid market adoption and expansion into multiple regions. The initiative aims to capture and upgrade waste streams currently destined for landfill or incineration, contributing to the decarbonization of the polyester value chain and supporting EU circular economy and climate goals.
Source: matterr