Freepoint, Source One working together on pretreatment facilities for plastics recycling

Freepoint Eco-Systems International Ltd. and Source One GmbH recently agreed to enter into a long-term partnership agreement to develop multiple pretreatment facilities focused on material streams that include postconsumer scrap to support the growth of pyrolysis infrastructure across Europe.

Under the agreement, Stamford, Connecticut-based Freepoint plans to build a network of pretreatment installations in various European markets, with Germany-based Source One acting as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. The companies say the facilities will convert mixed plastic scrap into feedstock for use in both chemical and mechanical recycling.

RELATED: Freepoint Eco-Systems receives $50M loan for plastics recycling facility

Source One claims it has developed a unique, high-standard pretreatment concept that already has been proven in commercial-scale operation to be capable of producing feedstock that meets the requirements of both pyrolysis and mechanical processing. Source One says that its process, designed to handle complex material streams such as mixed plastic packaging and flexible films, reduces energy use and environmental impact.

“This collaboration marks the beginning of a strategic partnership focused on unlocking the value of plastic waste,” says Jacco de Haas, chief commercial officer, Recycling Europe, at Freepoint. “By combining our feedstock strategy with Source One’s best-in-class pretreatment platform, we are building critical infrastructure that enables pyrolysis to scale commercially and competitively.”

Freepoint says the planned agreement aligns with its broader ambition to become a leading supplier of feedstock for advanced recycling in Europe. Material from the proposed facilities will supply the company’s own pyrolysis plants and support other upcycling initiatives across the continent.

“Partnering with Freepoint Eco-Systems provides the crucial capacity needed to make resource-efficient plastic use reality across Europe,” Source One founder and CEO Kai Hoyer says. “Together, we’re advancing the circular economy by leveraging cutting-edge recycling technologies and accelerating the high-quality recovery and reuse of plastics.”

The companies claim their agreement “establishes a foundation for infrastructure aligned with European regulatory drivers,” including the Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandate the increased use of recycled content in plastic packaging.