- The project produced several thousand tonnes of bio-based polypropylene and low-density polyethylene.
- Neste's renewable hydrocarbons derived from waste and residue oils were used.
- LyondellBasell's Wesseling, Germany site converted the feedstock into bio-based plastics.
- Independent testing confirmed over 30% renewable content in the polymers.
Project Overview
LyondellBasell and Neste have announced the first commercial-scale production of bio-based polypropylene and low-density polyethylene. This project utilized Neste's renewable hydrocarbons derived from sustainable bio-based raw materials, such as waste and residue oils.
Production Details
The project successfully produced several thousand tonnes of bio-based plastics, which are approved for food packaging. These products are marketed under LyondellBasell's Circulen and Circulen Plus brands. The production took place at LyondellBasell's Wesseling, Germany site, where the renewable feedstock was converted directly into bio-based polyethylene and polypropylene.
Verification and Usage
An independent third party tested the polymer products using carbon tracers and confirmed they contained over 30% renewable content. Some of the renewable products produced in the trial were sold to multiple customers, including Cofresco, a company of the Melitta Group. Cofresco plans to use the Circulen Plus bio-based polyethylene to create sustainable food packaging materials.
