INEOS Launches Advanced Recycled Plastic Production Project
2025-6-16
Recently, INEOS Olefins and Polymers¡ä Laval base in southern France has received the first deliveries of innovative recycled plastic raw materials. The raw material is pyrolysis oil, which will be used to produce recycled polymers to help customers meet the mandatory requirements of the European Union for food contact materials, medical devices, and precision plastic packaging, which require a minimum of 10% recycled material content in products by 2030.
These new materials will help meet the mandatory regulatory requirements of the European Union for strict application scenarios such as bottle cap seals, baby bottles, and water pipes.
To produce innovative materials, the cracking unit at the Lavala base has completed partial renovation and upgrading. This unit can now synchronously process renewable naphtha made from traditional raw materials, biomass, organic waste, or recycled materials.
The raw material for cracking oil is post-consumer plastic packaging waste in Europe (which cannot be physically recycled), and its production process is called advanced recycling technology. The cracking oil will be converted into regenerated ethylene and propylene in the cracking unit, and processed into regenerated polyethylene and polypropylene with native quality at Ineos¡ä polymer factories in Laval, Sarralbe, France, and Rosignano, Italy.
The renewable attributes of the product have been independently certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS). This certification tracks the entire flow of renewable raw materials based on the principle of material balance, ensuring that all renewable/renewable claims are accurate and credible.
The EU¡äs Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) sets ambitious goals for packaging waste recycling by 2030 and 2040. Advanced recycling technology is crucial for meeting the safety requirements of recycled materials and achieving the minimum recycling content requirement for plastic packaging. This technology ensures the production of terminal products that support infinite cycle regeneration, achieving true closed-loop circulation in the consumer goods field, avoiding plastic entering landfills or incineration processes, and significantly reducing the use of fossil materials.
Located 48 kilometers west of Marseille, the Laval production center is one of the largest petrochemical bases in Europe. Since April 2024, its cracking unit and polymer factory have been fully controlled by INEOS.
Rob Ingram, CEO of INEOS Olefins and Polymers Europe, said, "At INEOS, we understand that achieving a circular economy requires both ambitious goals and practical actions. While mechanical recycling is important, advanced recycling technology plays a crucial role in expanding the potential of plastic recycling and achieving closed-loop circulation, especially in high-end applications. We are making tangible progress by transforming the Laval cracking unit and ensuring a stable supply of cracking oil. We have built a core capability to produce native quality polymers using recycled raw materials. These materials will help customers meet the EU¡äs stringent regulatory goals and sustainable development requirements. INEOS is committed to working with partners to fully leverage the synergies of our recycling solution portfolio, including Recycel IN ™ Hybrid polymer and fully recyclable longitudinal stretch film experimental production line - accelerating the implementation of circular economy. This is the true practice of INEOS¡ä goal-driven innovation. ¡°
INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe has 8 production bases with an annual production capacity of over 8.5 million tons of chemicals and polymers. The products are widely used in the production of various derivatives, which can enhance and enrich many aspects of today¡äs life. Based on diversified technology platforms, high-performance polymers can be customized and developed to provide high value-added solutions for core market customers.
In April 2024, INEOS completed the full acquisition of the joint venture equity held by Total Energies in Laval, France, including 50% equity in Naphtachimie (cracking unit), 50% equity in Approyl (polypropylene business), 50% equity in Gexaro (aromatics business), and 50% equity in 3TC (naphtha storage and transportation). This transaction also covers some of Total Energy¡äs ethylene pipeline assets in France.
These new materials will help meet the mandatory regulatory requirements of the European Union for strict application scenarios such as bottle cap seals, baby bottles, and water pipes.
To produce innovative materials, the cracking unit at the Lavala base has completed partial renovation and upgrading. This unit can now synchronously process renewable naphtha made from traditional raw materials, biomass, organic waste, or recycled materials.
The raw material for cracking oil is post-consumer plastic packaging waste in Europe (which cannot be physically recycled), and its production process is called advanced recycling technology. The cracking oil will be converted into regenerated ethylene and propylene in the cracking unit, and processed into regenerated polyethylene and polypropylene with native quality at Ineos¡ä polymer factories in Laval, Sarralbe, France, and Rosignano, Italy.
The renewable attributes of the product have been independently certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS). This certification tracks the entire flow of renewable raw materials based on the principle of material balance, ensuring that all renewable/renewable claims are accurate and credible.
The EU¡äs Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) sets ambitious goals for packaging waste recycling by 2030 and 2040. Advanced recycling technology is crucial for meeting the safety requirements of recycled materials and achieving the minimum recycling content requirement for plastic packaging. This technology ensures the production of terminal products that support infinite cycle regeneration, achieving true closed-loop circulation in the consumer goods field, avoiding plastic entering landfills or incineration processes, and significantly reducing the use of fossil materials.
Located 48 kilometers west of Marseille, the Laval production center is one of the largest petrochemical bases in Europe. Since April 2024, its cracking unit and polymer factory have been fully controlled by INEOS.
Rob Ingram, CEO of INEOS Olefins and Polymers Europe, said, "At INEOS, we understand that achieving a circular economy requires both ambitious goals and practical actions. While mechanical recycling is important, advanced recycling technology plays a crucial role in expanding the potential of plastic recycling and achieving closed-loop circulation, especially in high-end applications. We are making tangible progress by transforming the Laval cracking unit and ensuring a stable supply of cracking oil. We have built a core capability to produce native quality polymers using recycled raw materials. These materials will help customers meet the EU¡äs stringent regulatory goals and sustainable development requirements. INEOS is committed to working with partners to fully leverage the synergies of our recycling solution portfolio, including Recycel IN ™ Hybrid polymer and fully recyclable longitudinal stretch film experimental production line - accelerating the implementation of circular economy. This is the true practice of INEOS¡ä goal-driven innovation. ¡°
INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe has 8 production bases with an annual production capacity of over 8.5 million tons of chemicals and polymers. The products are widely used in the production of various derivatives, which can enhance and enrich many aspects of today¡äs life. Based on diversified technology platforms, high-performance polymers can be customized and developed to provide high value-added solutions for core market customers.
In April 2024, INEOS completed the full acquisition of the joint venture equity held by Total Energies in Laval, France, including 50% equity in Naphtachimie (cracking unit), 50% equity in Approyl (polypropylene business), 50% equity in Gexaro (aromatics business), and 50% equity in 3TC (naphtha storage and transportation). This transaction also covers some of Total Energy¡äs ethylene pipeline assets in France.