INEOS Styrolution has announced the completion of the first successful test runs to produce virgin polystyrene from recycled monomer.
Completed at the company’s Antwerp site in Belgium, these experiments can be viewed as practical proof of polystyrene recyclability and as a game changer for INEOS Styrolution in polystyrene production.
The product is the result of experimental production runs of polystyrene with styrene monomer feedstock produced from styrene plastic depolymerization.
Michiel Verswyvel, Global R&D Expert at INEOS Styrolution, said: “We are very excited having achieved this breakthrough. Due to its relatively clean decomposition into its building blocks, polystyrene is almost designed to be recycled. Within our global project team we are working to make this a stable process on a commercial level by learning more about purity requirements of the feedstock material.”
Alexander Glück, President Americas, added: “It is great to see that specialists from all regions contribute expertise to this project. This global collaboration shows INEOS Styrolution’s strong commitment to chemical recycling and sustainability.”
The announcement is part of INEOS Styrolution’s ambitious efforts aiming at circularity for styrenics to save valuable resources, recycle styrenic waste and reduce the ecological footprint.
