European Chemical Industry News & Insights

SABIC, Plastic Energy, Siemer, and Landbell Collaborate on Advanced Recycling in Geleen

At a glance
  • The advanced recycling unit in Geleen is in the final stages of construction.
  • Siemer's plant in Vechta has an input capacity of 25,000 tonnes per year.
  • The plant will convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, called TACOIL™.
  • SABIC will use TACOIL™ to produce certified circular polymers.

Collaboration for Circular Economy

SABIC and Plastic Energy have partnered with Siemer and Landbell to enhance the circular economy for plastics. The collaboration focuses on sorting and pre-treating mixed post-consumer plastic for processing in an advanced recycling unit in Geleen, The Netherlands, which is nearing completion.

Innovative Sorting Plant

Siemer's revamped sorting plant in Vechta, Germany, plays a crucial role in this initiative. Originally a sorting facility for light packaging, it has been redesigned to recover recyclable materials from previously non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle plastic waste. The plant can process 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, separating dirt, foreign matter, and impurities from the plastic fractions.

Advanced Recycling Process

The sorted and treated plastic waste will be delivered to the advanced recycling unit in Geleen, where it will be converted into pyrolysis oil, known as TACOIL™, using Plastic Energy's technology. This TACOIL™ will then be treated in a newly built SABIC hydrotreater plant and used as an alternative feedstock to produce certified circular polymers, part of SABIC's TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio.

Driving Circularity

This collaboration is among the first to integrate feedstock streams, technology, and expertise to scale up advanced recycling operations. By doing so, it aims to create a more closed-loop model for post-consumer plastic, contributing significantly to the circular economy.