Dow to build Europe's largest ‘advanced recycling facility’ in Germany

Horgen, Switzerland - Polymer recycling company Mura Technology plans to construct a new facility at Dow's Böhlen site in Germany, Dow announced 14 Sept.

The collaborative project, said Dow, is part of a series of planned facilities across Europe the US to “rapidly scale” advanced recycling of plastics to help address global waste issues.

Moreover, the programme is part of support Dow’s wider ‘circularity’ drive* to supply more sustainable feedstock for the group’s plastics and elastomer/rubber production. 

This project at the Böhlen site is targeted for a final investment decision by the end of 2023, according to the press announcement.

Slated to be operational by 2025, the unit would deliver about 120 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of polymer recycling capacity at full run-rate. 

This and the other planned units expected to be constructed across Europe and the US would collectively add up to 600ktpa of ‘advanced recycling’ capacity by 2030.

Mura's process uses supercritical steam to convert most forms of plastics back into the original oils and chemicals from which they were made. 

Through partnership with global brands, Mura plans to have capacity for 1,000ktpa plastica recycling in operation or development by 2025.

Dow aims to expand and build momentum around securing circular feedstocks and supporting breakthrough advanced recycling technologies," said Isam Shomaly, Dow business VP, feedstocks and commodities.

The planned facility builds on Dow's ongoing collaboration with Mura, with an initial project to construct the world's first plant using Mura's HydroPRS process in Teesside, UK

This pioneering project with London-based Mura is expected be operational in 2023 with an initial 20ktpa production line. 

The Böhlen unit “would enable a significantly larger capacity for plastic waste and considerably increase the supply of fully circular feedstock to the industry,” stated Dow. 

The feedstock derived from plastics waste currently destined for incineration or landfill, would reduce reliance on virgin fossil-based feedstocks.

This would support production of “recycled plastic which is in high demand from global brands, particularly for high-end sensitive markets like food and medical applications,” said Dow. 

*Dow’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its elastomer and rubber production processes and materials are the focus of an interview with lead manager Olaf Henschke in the Sept/Oct issue of ERJ magazine.