European Chemical Industry News & Insights

Versalis to Launch Chemical Recycling Project Hoopᵀᴹ in Mantova, Italy

At a glance
  • Versalis signed a joint development agreement with Servizi di Ricerche e Sviluppo (S.R.S.).
  • The project will develop pyrolysis technology to recycle mixed plastic waste.
  • A 6,000-tonne capacity plant will be built at the Mantova site.
  • The goal is to produce new virgin polymers from recycled materials.

Project Overview

Versalis, the chemical company of Eni, has launched the Hoopᵀᴹ project to develop a new technology for chemically recycling plastic waste. This initiative aims to create a circular recycling process for plastics.

Partnership and Technology

Versalis has entered into a joint development agreement with the Italian engineering company Servizi di Ricerche e Sviluppo (S.R.S.). S.R.S. owns a pyrolysis technology that will be further developed to convert mixed plastic waste, which cannot be mechanically recycled, into raw materials for producing new virgin polymers.

Initial Plant and Capacity

The first plant, with a capacity of 6,000 tonnes per year, will be constructed at the Mantova site. Versalis plans to progressively scale up this technology, starting from its sites in Italy.

Strategic Goals

The Hoopᵀᴹ project aims to complement existing mechanical recycling technologies, with the ultimate goal of creating a theoretically endless recycling process for plastics. This process will produce new virgin polymers that are identical to those derived from fossil raw materials.