Ineos says Belgian PVC recycling lines now operating

Ineos Inovyn, a business unit of London-based global petrochemical firm Ineos, has started up what it calls the “next generation recycling pilot plants” in Belgium designed to bolster Europe’s polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic recycling infrastructure.

The two pilot plants are located at an Ineos facility in Jemeppe-sur-Sambre, Belgium, and will focus on developing technology for recycling streams of PVC scrap not mechanically recyclable today.

The investments in PVC recycling are part of Ineos’ Project Circle initiative, which aims to achieve a scale of 40,000 tons of plastic and polymers recycling capacity by 2030.

“PVC is one of the most recycled polymers in Europe, but reaching full circularity remains a complex challenge for our industry,” Ineos Inovyn CEO Geir Tuft says. “Project Circle is an ambitious step in developing advanced new solutions and supporting Europe’s green transition.”

Currently in Europe, about 30 percent of discarded PVC is mechanically recycled, according to Ineos. Project Circle targets the remaining 70 percent by developing new technologies including dissolution, pyrolysis and gasification.

“Our goal is to make all PVC [scrap] recyclable and aim to have our first industrial unit ready by 2030,” Ineos Inovyn says.

The pilot plants in Jemeppe sur Sambre are located near an Ineos Inovyn research and development location and draw on Vinyloop dissolution technology developed between 2002 and 2018.

PVC scrap feedstock, such as flooring, carpets and tarpaulin, will be collected from construction and demolition sites in the region, with the end product intended to be “rejuvenated PVC not containing legacy additives."

Other entities involved in the effort include Beaulieu International Group, Sioen Industries, Empire Carpets International, ExxonMobil, Centexbel, Entreprises Générales Louis Duchêne, Vanheede Environmental Logistics, Rovi-Tech, Eco-Dec, the University of Liège and Avient Corp.’s Belgium site.

“By working together across the value chain we can leverage our collective expertise, to develop faster solutions and bring more recycled products to the market,” says Luc Castin, sustainability manager of Ineos Inovyn.

“We need a thriving and competitive European plastic industry that allows us to increase investment and innovation in circularity and decarbonization. The financial support of the Walloon and Flemish region to the consortiums are vital to achieve this.”