Ineos, Viridor to develop hybrid plastics range for Europe

Hot on the heels of a recent deal to supply recycled polymers to consumer goods giant Unilever, UK recycling specialist Viridor is now partnering with chemicals giant Ineos to develop a new hybrid plastics range to be available across Europe.
 
In a “world-leading project”, the two UK companies will aim to produce a range of high-specification polymers with up to 50% or more post-consumer recycled content.
 
As part of the agreement, Ineos will be supplied with recovered polymer from Viridor’s currently under construction £65m post-consumer polymer recycling plant at the Avonmouth Resource Recovery Centre, near Bristol.
 
Set for operation in 2021, the plant is the UK’s largest multi-polymer recycling and reprocessing facility, powered by Viridor’s £252m energy recovery plant which generates power and heat from non-recyclable waste.
 
Ineos will contribute its polymer expertise in the engineering of the new range of polymers to incorporate high levels of recycled plastics.
 
The partnership aims to mark a “new paradigm” in polymer manufacturing by offering “sustainable quality” materials to the UK market, according to both companies’ officials.
 
The new materials will meet the growing demand for increased levels of recycled content without compromising on product performance and quality, according to Ineos Olefins & Polymers CEO Rob Ingram.
 
“We want to encourage the increasing collection and recycling of plastic materials after their initial use. Our commitment to take material from this project helps to support investment in a new, state-of-the-art recycling facility,” Ingram added. 
 
According to Viridor managing director Phil Piddington, the company’s 2019 Recycling Index, which tracks public attitudes to recycling, found that nearly nine in 10 (89%) of those polled believe that existing plastic should be used to create useful resources which can be used again.
 
The index also demonstrated that future buying choices will be influenced by packaging made from recyclable material: Some 65% of the respondents – up four points from 2018 – are more likely to buy products made from recyclable material, with 76% saying there should be mandatory lessons on recycling in schools.
 
“The message from the public could not clearer when it comes to recycling and putting recycled content back into the economy,” Piddington added.
 
Ineos introduced a range of polyolefins with up to 50% recycled content in the third quarter of this year.
 
“Building up to 50% recycled content without losing the properties which our customers need is not a simple technical achievement. However, it is a very important milestone and demonstrates to the market that plastics can be successfully recycled and re-used in value applications,” said Ineos Olefins & Polymers business director Liz Rittweger.
 
Last week, Viridor announced a five-year supply agreement with FMCG company Unilever, under which it will provide a range of recycled plastics from its Avonmouth plant to the company.