By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : April 16, 2021 11:49 am
Funded in part by a grant awarded by the Swedish Energy Agency, the study is being carried out with project partner Stena Recycling
Borealis is planning to set up a new chemical recycling unit in 2024 at Borealis production site in Stenungsund, Sweden.
The company has commenced a new project to secure an increased supply of chemically recycled feedstock for the production of more circular base chemicals and polyolefin-based products. A feasibility study for a chemical recycling unit is now underway.
Funded in part by a grant awarded by the Swedish Energy Agency, the study is being carried out with project partner Stena Recycling. Provided a successful feasibility study and final investment decision, operations are expected to begin in 2024.
The unit will help accelerate the transformation to plastics circularity by enabling the replacement on a larger scale of fossil-based feedstock by integrating more chemically recycled feedstock via the mass balance model. Borealis Stenungsund has been ISCC PLUS certified since February 2021.
Borealis will also co-operate independently with Fortum Recycling and Waste on a project involving the sourcing of plastic waste to the chemical recycling unit; Fortum will apply for public funding for a feasibility study to this end.
Borcycle C is the driving force behind Borealis endeavours in chemical recycling. Along with Borcycle M – in which “M” stands for mechanical recycling – it forms the Borcycle portfolio of all-round solutions for plastics circularity based on the technology suite Borcycle launched in 2019.
Borcycle is transformational because it gives post-consumer plastics a new life; it continues to evolve thanks to innovation and value chain co-operation. Borcycle also is part of the EverMinds platform and its ambition for accelerating action on circularity.
The chemical recycling feasibility study is being carried out with Stena Recycling, the leading recycling company in northern Europe and expert in the development of sustainable circular solutions in all types of operations. A grant has been received from the Swedish Energy Agency to co-fund the study, which will evaluate the optimal technology for the chemical recycling unit and its integration in the Cracker at the existing Borealis production site in Stenungsund.
Martijn van Koten, Borealis Executive Vice President Base Chemicals and Operations said, “The integration of Borcycle C into our cracker in Stenungsund, Sweden is a clear example of our circular efforts: built on innovation and collaboration, it enables us to supply sufficient amounts of chemically-recycled base chemicals and polyolefins to the market.”
Lucrece Foufopoulos, Borealis Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Innovation & Technology and Circular Economy Solutions said, “The cooperation with Stena and Fortum allows us to offer our customers and partners virgin-like polyolefins from chemically recycled post-consumer waste.”
“The project we are carrying out together with Borealis at Sweden's first plastic recycling hub is a very exciting and important step in increasing the proportion of recycled plastic,” says Martin Leander, Head of Commodities, Stena Recycling.
“Through this co-operation we can contribute to increased material recycling and reduced climate impact by chemically recycling plastic waste that is currently incinerated. Plastic is an important material, and we now have additional opportunities to help our customers find circular solutions,” commented Leander.
Christian Helgesson, CEO, Fortum Recycling and Waste said, “Working with like-minded partners such as Borealis is the best way to accelerate the change. We are convinced that smart and collaborative solutions will improve resource efficiency.”