Lummus Technology and chemicals giant Sumitomo Chemical have unveiled the commercial rollout of their highly-efficient Polymethyl Methacrylate Chemical Recycling (PMMA-CR) technology, marking a major step forward in sustainable plastics and circular chemistry.
The launch builds on the strategic partnership between Lummus and Sumitomo, first announced in May 2024, aimed at co-developing and commercializing technologies that drive circularity and a carbon-neutral future across the petrochemical value chain.
“By uniting Lummus' process expertise with Sumitomo Chemical's materials innovation, we're delivering a scalable, economically viable PMMA recycling solution,” said Leon de Bruyn, president and CEO of Lummus Technology. “This gives our customers a clear pathway to reduce waste, lower emissions and unlock new value from recycled materials—turning sustainability into a competitive advantage.”
Seiji Takeuchi, Senior Managing Executive Officer at Sumitomo Chemical, added: “We are proud to deliver this innovative PMMA-CR technology to market together with our trusted partner, Lummus Technology. Through commercial licensing, we will contribute to the realization of a circular economy by enabling the recycling of PMMA.”
Since forming their alliance, the companies successfully validated the technology at Sumitomo Chemical’s pilot plant in Japan.
The process recycles end-of-life PMMA into high-purity methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer using a depolymerization system developed with The Japan Steel Works, Ltd. The recycled MMA meets the same quality standards as fossil-derived material while slashing life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 50%, according to Sumitomo Chemical.
Key features of PMMA-CR technology:
Highly Efficient Recycling: Converts post-consumer and post-industrial PMMA waste into circular MMA monomer at high yield and purity.
Advanced Depolymerization: Twin-screw extruder and optimized heating system ensure uniform temperature and excellent thermal efficiency.
Continuous, Scalable Operation: Self-cleaning extruder enables high equipment utilization, with modular capacity expansion available.
Circular Integration: Recycled MMA matches fossil-based MMA quality, supporting closed-loop applications in automotive, electronics, construction, and more.
With PMMA‑CR now available for commercial licensing, Lummus and Sumitomo are positioned to help customers reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and accelerate the shift toward circular PMMA.
