Technology
Nextchem wins major circular economy projects in Africa & Asia
The projects will transform post-consumer and post-industrial polyolefin end-of-life materials into high-quality compounded r-polymers, matching the technical performance of virgin equivalents
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By ICN Bureau | March 26, 2026
MAIRE has announced that Nextchem has secured two high-profile feasibility studies in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia, aimed at establishing state-of-the-art mechanical upcycling and compounding plants using its proprietary NXReplast technology.
The projects will transform post-consumer and post-industrial polyolefin end-of-life materials into high-quality compounded r-polymers, matching the technical performance of virgin equivalents. NX Replast offers a turnkey solution for rapid deployment of advanced upcycling plants, producing r-polymers with clear advantages over standard commodity grades.
In Southern Africa, the plant is set to process approximately 25 kilo-tonnes per annum (KTPA) of polyolefin waste. Developed by a major local industrial player, the initiative marks one of the region’s first circular economy projects, promoting resource efficiency and sustainable materials in a cost-effective manner. Nextchem’s feasibility study will cover process design, cost analysis, and preliminary engineering.
Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, a leading operator has selected Nextchem to conduct a feasibility study for a 40 KTPA mechanical upcycling and compounding plant using the same NXReplast platform.
“These new awards confirm the global reach of our circular technology offering. They also demonstrate how our technological platform is increasingly selected as a reliable, competitive, and scalable solution for advanced plastic upcycling also in new markets, supporting international partners in shaping high impact sustainability roadmaps through proven engineering capabilities and cost-efficient solutions,” said Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of Nextchem.
The twin projects underscore Nextchem’s expanding international footprint and the growing demand for scalable solutions to tackle plastic waste within a circular economy framework.
