Borealis to make recycled-content polyolefins in Belgium

Borealis AG, an Austria-based packaging and plastics recycling company with a global footprint,  says it intends to install a recycled-content polyolefins (rPO) demonstration line use its Borcycle M technology in Beringen, Belgium.

The company says its process can “transform mechanically recycled postconsumer [scrap] into high-quality rigid polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) materials.”

Borealis says the “semi-commercial demonstration” (rPO) compounding line is being built this year and is expected to be fully operational in the first half of next year.

As designed, the line will use Borcycle M technology to reprocess what the firm calls “a broad range” of recycled-content flakes from both PP and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) scrap sources, offering “exceptional versatility and flexibility.”

Targeted end markets for the reprocessed materials produced include applications in the mobility, consumer products, appliance and energy sectors, says Borealis. “The line will support Borealis’ customers to integrate value-added recycled plastics into their product lines without compromising performance,” states the Austrian firm.

In addition to expanding Borealis’ overall recycled plastics reprocessing and compounding capacity, the firm says the Belgian installation will provide “valuable operational experience and technological insight into recyclate processing – knowledge that will be vital in supporting Borealis to scale up this transformative technology.”

“At Borealis, we are dedicated to supporting our customers to meet their sustainability goals while maintaining exceptionally high quality standards,” says Mirjam Mayer, Borealis’ vice president of circular economy solutions. “This represents another step in Borealis’ ‘EverMinds’ ambition to deepen our expertise in giving plastic [scrap] a new life in high-value applications."

Borealis describes itself as one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and sustainable polyolefin materials, employing some 6,000 people globally.