Green materials: Agilyx/Nextchem tie-up for chemical recycling; Avient’s 100% PCR masterbatch for packaging

Agilyx Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Agilyx AS, and NextChem, a subsidiary of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont Group, have entered into an agreement to support the development of advanced chemical recycling facilities globally. This agreement combines Agilyx’s pyrolysis technology with NextChem’s expertise in licensing, implementation, and EPC services for plastics recycling solutions.

Under the agreement, NextChem will act as a technology and EPC partner for Agilyx. The aim of this partnership is to accelerate the implementation of chemical recycling facilities globally, utilising Agilyx advanced pyrolysis technology in the conversion of mixed waste plastic into circular olefins and circular fuels. With a longstanding expertise in the advanced recycling of plastics, Agilyx’s proprietary chemical recycling process can turn post-use plastics back into their original chemical components for continued use, increasing the recovery of plastics that cannot be recycled with traditional recycling processes.

The scope of the partnership, in its first phase, is to develop a series of chemical recycling projects for third parties. The initial focus will be on two already identified projects, one in Europe and one in South America. Furthermore, the agreement would represent an opportunity for co-investments in specific projects in order to accelerate the overall commercial pipeline.

“We are proud to include this new partnership with Agilyx into our portfolio and further develop our basket of technological solutions for the circular economy, that already include upcycling, waste to chemicals, waste to fuels, polymerisation and now also thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis)," said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Maire Tecnimont Group and NextChem.

Meanwhile, in other news US firm Avient Corporation has launched Rejoin PCR masterbatch for polyolefin packaging applications. Made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyolefin as a carrier resin, it can enable a bottle or part to be manufactured from 100% PCR.

Until now, masterbatch has generally been made using virgin material as a carrier resin. This means that at typical let-down ratios, the finished product would contain 3 to 5% non-recycled plastic. With major consumer goods companies actively defining sustainability goals of 100% PCR polyolefin packaging, Avient has responded by developing Rejoin PCR Masterbatch in customisable colours and special effects.

“We understand that many consider the use of colorants and additives that rely on virgin resin carriers to nullify the claim of 100% PCR, so we worked to develop a solution that could help our customers deliver fully on their sustainability commitments,” said Bob Lee, Marketing Director, Color & Additives Asia at Avient.

Rejoin PCR Masterbatch combines pigments and functional additives into a single solution without negatively affecting colour or mechanical properties. It can be added during production using standard equipment with little to no impact on processing, and allows for full recyclability of the end product.

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(PRA)

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