Loop/Suez to build world’s largest PET recycling facility in Europe

Sustainable plastics technology provider Loop Industries and environmental services firm Suez plan to build the first Infinite Loop PET recycling facility in Europe. It will be the world’s largest, with the potential to produce the equivalent of approximately 4.2 billion food grade beverage bottles, made from 100% recycled and infinitely recyclable PET plastic. Final site selection and engineering are targeted to be completed by mid-2021 and commissioning of the facility is currently projected in 2023. The new facility will be save up to 180,000 tonnes/year of CO2, compared with virgin PET production from a traditional petrochemical process.

Based on enhanced recycling, the partnership will combine the resource management expertise of Suez and Loop’s breakthrough technology for the production of virgin quality, food grade, 100% recycled and infinitely recyclable plastic. Located in Europe, the new facility will offer a sustainable solution to global consumer goods companies.

Europe consumes approximately 5.5 million tonnes/year of PET plastic, less than 7% of which makes its way back into bottles. European governments are imposing new regulation on single used plastics and set minimum recycled content laws for packaging. It results in a critical need for a sustainable solution that can drastically reduce the environmental impact of plastic packaging for consumer brands. With this partnership, the partners say will directly increase recycling rates in the country where it will be built.

Loop’s patented and proprietary low-energy technology enables waste plastic to be recycled an infinite number of times, with no degradation in quality. Combined with the expertise of Suez, the facility will respond to huge growth in demand in Europe from global beverage and consumer goods brand companies, committed to aggressive targets for a high level of recycled content in their products. This new enhanced recycling facility dedicated to PET plastic will be the largest in the world, with the potential to produce the equivalent of approximately 4.2 billion food grade beverage bottles made of 100% recycled and infinitely recyclable PET plastic annually.

By leveraging Loop’s innovating technology, this facility will be able to claim savings of 180,000 tonnes/year of CO2, equivalent to approximately 418,000 barrels of oil.

“Suez has been involved for more than ten years in mechanical plastic recycling, while investing constantly in research & innovation. In 2019, we processed 450,000 tonnes of plastics across Europe and produced 150,000 tonnes of recycled plastics. Highly convinced by the complementarity between mechanical and chemical recycling solutions, we are thrilled to be part of this innovative project with Loop Industries as it will expand our offer and our solutions improving the economic and environmental performance of our industrial customers, but also contributing to a sustainable resource management” comments Jean-Marc Boursier, Suez Group COO.

“Expansion of our technology across Europe has always been of high strategic importance for Loop and our customers. We are beyond excited to be working with the excellent team at Suez, who bring a complementary skill-set to Loop’s team with their deep knowledge in resource management,” said Loop Founder/CEO Daniel Solomita.

“Europe is leading the charge against petroleum-based plastics: through tougher regulations and taxes, they are setting a global example on transitioning to a more circular economy. The Infinite Loop technology creates the infrastructure countries need to be able to eliminate plastic waste and increase recycling rates. Loop’s expansion is tailored to our customers’ needs allowing them to meet and exceed their ambitious targets for recycled content in their packaging, but also to have the ability to recycle their packaging infinitely, without having to compromise quality,” he added.

(PRA)

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