Polystyrene producers to explore new recycling options

Three polystyrene producers—Americas Styrenics LLC (AmSty), Ineos Styrolution and Trinseo—have announced they have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to jointly explore recycling options for polystyrene (PS). The companies will explore advanced recycling technologies, optimize them for commercial use and call for all contributors along the value chain to make the circularity of PS a reality, the companies state in a news release on the JDA.

The three companies are aiming at an economy where postconsumer PS scrap does not end up in landfills and instead is recognized as a resource for the development of new materials for future use.

According to the news release, the three companies have done their own independent research and have invested in various projects to make progress on the commercialization of advanced recycling capacity. The companies say the joint effort will allow them to share best practices and optimize recycling technologies for large-scale commercial use.

“I am thrilled to see the industry coming together globally to work on a common goal to realize true circularity for styrenics,” says Randy Pogue, president and CEO of AmSty. The company, headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, produces PS and styrene monomer. “This is a true win-win for all participants in this joint effort and finally for our customers, for consumers and for society.”

“Polystyrene has all it takes to make it a star in a circular economy,” adds Alexander Gluck, president EMEA of Ineos Styrolution, which is based in Frankfurt, Germany. “Enhanced recycling technologies even offer recycled polystyrene at food-contact quality.”

“This marks another milestone in our industry’s commitment towards a circular economy where we can continue to enjoy all the benefits of polystyrene [while] solving the environmental challenges at the same time,” adds Nicolas Joly, vice president of plastics and feedstocks at Trinseo, which is a global materials provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.