Ineos Styrolution, a styrene resin supplier, is working with Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller, a leading dairy producer, to develop a chemical recovery-based polystyrene (PS) recycling solution.
The joint Ineos benzene collar and Müller project focuses on the reuse of polystyrene recovered through depolymerization. Depolymerization is a process that converts post-consumer polystyrene waste into its monomers. The advantage of this process is the production of high-quality pure polystyrene, which is ultimately used in food-related applications. In other words, a yogurt cup made from recycled polystyrene has the same properties as a yogurt cup made from conventional polystyrene.
Buntinx from Ineos Benzene said: "Dark styrene resins can be mechanically recycled, but chemical recycling is the preferred way for food packaging applications."
Ineos Benz Collar and Müller have reached an agreement on a phased implementation method. The laboratory scale phase will start this year, the pilot scale phase will start in 2020, and the commercial scale phase will start in 2022.
Sven Riechers, Ineos Benzene's Vice President of Corporate Management, added: "We are very excited to work with leading market players such as Müller. We look forward to rapid and flexible cooperation between the two parties to produce an innovative solution that could be an industry case. "
Ineos is committed to recycling styrene to save valuable resources, recycle styrene waste, and reduce its ecological footprint, and the statement is one of its efforts to that end. Its actions also include research projects, collaborations across value chains and partnerships with customers to optimize solutions for sustainable development.
In April this year, Ineos Benz Collar completed its first successful test run, using previous depolymerized materials to produce pure polystyrene. These experiments were performed at the company's plant in Antwerp, Belgium, and were considered a practical demonstration of the recyclability of polystyrene.
At a press conference before the K show held in Antwerp in June, Rob Buntinx, Ineos Benz Lead Europe, Middle East and Africa Region President, said that by 2025, Ineos PS packaging supplied to Europe will use an average of 30% of machinery Recycling materials, and providing a series of polyolefin product packaging solutions containing 50% or more recycled materials in the European market. At least 325,000 tons of recycled materials are incorporated into the products every year, and the polymer products are 100% recyclable.
At this year's K show, the company will launch two color PS, including 30-50% recycled materials, which are black and gray, respectively, with high gloss. In addition, an ASA resin for non-painted high-gloss finishes will be on display.