Recent developments
Waste-to-fuels scaling
Construction plans by Perpetual Next USA for three Southeast U.S. biomethanol plants apply a torrefaction–gasification–synthesis blueprint and U.S. partners, targeting rapid capacity scale-up. In the Netherlands, EemsGas secured €30 million for a demolition‑wood gasification facility producing 18 million m3/year of grid‑quality green gas with TNO technology. EnviTec Biogas AG announced new construction contracts and entry into Lithuania, while signaling policy uncertainty in Germany and integration opportunities via Uniper’s LIQVIS network.
Recyclable polymer design
Borealis is expanding Borstar Nextension technology in Burghausen to advance high‑performance monomaterial ssPP for flexible packaging, supporting EU PPWR recyclability requirements. Arkema expanded ISCC PLUS certification to over 70% of coating sites, enabling bio‑attributed grades with at least 20% lower product carbon footprints across multiple resin and additive families.
Chemical recycling deployment
Lummus Technology invested in InnoVent to scale licensed tire pyrolysis, leveraging a Monterrey plant that processes up to one million passenger tires into oil, recovered carbon black, gas, and steel. Indaver's Plastics2Chemicals facility in Antwerp is converting post‑consumer polystyrene and XPS from PMD streams into food‑contact recycled styrene; Colruyt deployed trays made from the resulting recycled polystyrene as capacity ramps to 26,000 t/y.
Bio-based polymers progress
Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl obtained ISO 14001, 45001, and 9001 certification via DNV audits, supporting scale‑up of bio‑based monomer production. Avantium and Packamama signed a capacity reservation for releaf PEF to decarbonize wine packaging; the program is supported by an AU$1 million BRII grant and leverages PEF’s barrier properties.
Glass circularity pilot
AGC Inc. and TRE HOLDINGS CORPORATION demonstrated horizontal recycling of demolition‑sourced window glass in Suwa City, validating collection, cullet processing, and remelting into flat glass at AGC’s Yokohama Technical Center while assessing economic feasibility for a national rollout.
Policy and coordination
The EU Critical Chemicals Alliance convened its first assembly at Chemelot to discuss plant closures, trade distortions, investment needs, demand creation for EU‑made chemicals, and criteria to identify essential sites and molecules, with plans for systematic mapping to inform monitoring and potential legislation.