TAGS: Sustainability / Natural Solutions Additives for Packaging
OMV has made the final investment decision to build a chemical recycling demonstration plant based on its patented ReOil® technology. OMV is thus taking the next step towards a large-scale plant planned for 2026.
The patented chemical recycling technology developed by OMV converts plastic waste under moderate pressure and normal refinery operating temperatures into synthetic raw materials, which are then primarily used to manufacture high-quality plastics.
Converting Plastics into Raw Materials
A ReOil® pilot plant has been in operation at the Schwechat refinery since 2018. This can process 100 kg of old plastic into 100 liters of synthetic raw material per hour. The pilot plant has been in operation for a total of 13,000 hours since it was commissioned, making it possible to improve the thermal cracking process and thus supporting the further expansion of ReOil® technology.
The current investment includes the construction of a ReOil® demonstration system with a design capacity of 16,000 t / year at the OMV site in Schwechat, Austria. The start of production is planned for the beginning of 2023. To finance this project, OMV took out its first green loan, which fulfills the “Green Loan Principles” and is supported by a green and project-related due diligence assessment - the so-called “Second Party Opinion” - as well as a project-related framework for green financing.
The demonstration plant will convert plastic waste that is not suitable for mechanical recycling and would otherwise end up in waste incineration into a valuable resource. The raw materials are obtained in close cooperation with local waste disposal companies in Austria and consist mainly of polyolefins.
Examples of such plastic waste are food packaging, plastic cups, “coffee to go” lids and confectionery packaging. Through the chemical recycling of plastics, OMV gains a pure raw material. This can be used to produce basic chemicals and plastics in pure, new quality for all types of applications. This also includes packaging for the food industry and medical products, which must meet the highest quality and safety standards.
Partnership in Recycling management of Plastics
Together with
Borealis, OMV aims to play a leading role in the recycling management of plastics. Thanks to the Group's mechanical and chemical recycling activities, OMV and Borealis are already among the first players in the industry to close the plastics cycle and offer their customers a complete portfolio of sustainable polyolefin solutions.
“
The ReOil® pilot plant has shown that we are on the right track with our in-house developed technology and our efforts in this area. We believe that chemical recycling can complement the available mechanical recycling technologies and is a sustainable and profitable solution. With the decision to build a demonstration plant, we are now taking the next step in the direction of a circular economy and reducing our CO2 emissions, ”said Alfred Stern, CEO and general director of OMV Aktiengesellschaft.
The plant will be fully integrated into the petrochemical site of the Schwechat refinery, thus enabling OMV to use resources optimally, guarantee maximum efficiency and the highest occupational safety standards. This will create around 50 new jobs. This is a significant step in the development of ReOil® into a commercially viable, large-scale chemical recycling technology with a processing capacity of 200,000 t / year by 2026.
Like the pilot plant, the ReOil® demonstration plant will also be fully ISCC PLUS certified. ISCC PLUS is a sustainability standard for recycled and bio-based materials recognized by all stakeholders, which enables traceability along the supply chain and confirms that companies comply with environmental and social standards.
Source: OMV