- Final investment decision expected by end of 2023.
- Start-up planned for end of 2025 with 50,000 tonnes per year capacity.
- Source One Plastics to supply feedstock.
- MoReTec technology converts plastic waste into pyrolysis oil and gas.
Project Overview
LyondellBasell is moving forward with plans to build an advanced recycling plant at its Wesseling, Germany site. The plant will utilize the company's proprietary MoReTec technology to convert pre-treated plastic waste into feedstock for new plastic production. The final investment decision is expected by the end of 2023.
Feedstock Supply
The German Joint Venture Source One Plastics will provide the plastic waste feedstock for the plant. This facility aims to recycle the amount of plastic packaging waste generated by approximately 1.3 million German citizens per year, including materials like multi-layered food packaging and mixed plastic containers that are typically not recycled today.
Technology and Capacity
MoReTec technology will convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil and gas, which will be used as feedstock in LyondellBasell's crackers to produce new plastic materials. The start-up of the advanced recycling plant is planned for the end of 2025, with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year. The feedstock produced will be converted at the Wesseling site into new CirculenRevive polymers for applications such as food packaging and healthcare products.
Development History
In 2018, LyondellBasell began researching chemical recycling of plastic waste with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. This led to the construction of a chemical recycling pilot plant in Ferrara, Italy, which began operation in August 2020. The pilot plant's operation improved the recycling process efficiency, identified a commercial catalyst, and advanced the characterization of the waste feedstock stream. The MoReTec plant capability was further expanded in 2021, converting the pilot plant to a small-scale industrial facility.
