Chemical company Versalis, a subsidiary of Eni has acquired the technology and plants of Ecoplastic, a De Berg group company specialising in the recovery, recycling and transformation chain of styrenic polymers.
Versalis said the acquisition represents the first step in its plans to build a new mechanical recycling hub at the site of the former Porto Marghera petrochemical plant in northern Italy. Versalis is currently engaged in redeveloping and re-industrialising the area - a project that will include the construction of a plant that will convert organic municipal solid waste into bio-oil and bio-methane. This latter plant is targeted for completion in 2024.
The present agreement gives Versalis exclusive access to the expertise developed by Ecoplastic in the recycling of styrenic polymers, strengthening its position in this area and enabling the company to expand its Versalis Revive range of recycled polymers.
Ecoplastic has developed a process for the production of styrenic polymers, expanded polystyrene (rEPS) and solid polystyrene (rGPPS) with up to 100% recycled content, based on expanded polystyrene waste derived from the industrial and commercial sources. “The recycling of plastics is one of the fundamental levers to accelerate the transformation of Versalis through circular models and is part of Eni’s broader strategy for the energy transition, of which the circular economy is one of the core strategic pillars,” said Versalis CEO Adriano Alfani.
The new products will be used for applications in which sustainability and circularity requirements are essential, such as packaging and construction.
Versalis plans to install the units acquired from Ecoplastic at Porto Marghera some time next year.
The overall capacity of this first phase will be around 20 thousand tons per year.