- The SPEAR plant in Geleen, Netherlands, produced its first TACOIL™ from post-consumer plastic waste.
- Full commercial production is expected to begin later this year.
- The plant will recycle 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually.
- The project supports the EU's goal for all packaging to be recyclable by 2030.
Introduction
SABIC Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling (SPEAR), a joint venture between Plastic Energy and SABIC, has produced its first batch of TACOIL™ at its Geleen, Netherlands plant. This marks a significant step towards full commercial operations expected later this year.
TACOIL™ Production
TACOIL™ is derived from hard-to-recycle post-consumer plastic waste, which would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill. It serves as a substitute for conventional naphtha in petrochemical plants, facilitating the production of food-contact packaging, medical-grade plastics, and other high-quality products.
Recycling Capacity
Once fully operational, the plant will recycle 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. This initiative aims to increase the commercial volumes of circular polymers, which have been utilized by brand owners in various consumer and packaging products since 2019.
Technological Integration
Plastic Energy’s patented TAC™ chemical recycling process breaks down mixed plastic waste using heat in an oxygen-free environment. The technology, proven at industrial scale in Spain, is designed to integrate directly into the existing plastics value chain.
EU Recycling Goals
Currently, less than 30% of Europe’s 32 million tonnes of plastic waste is recycled. The SPEAR facility is set to be the first example of third-party chemical recycling technology integrated into an existing petrochemical facility, supporting the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) goal for all packaging to be fully recyclable by 2030.
Government Support
This project is being executed with a Top Sector Energy Subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands.
