Germany: Polystyrene Ineos Styrolution Teams Up with Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller

Ineos Styrolution has collaborated with German-based firm Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller to develop a chemical recycling solution for polystyrene. The project is part of Ineos Styrolution’s ambitious plan which is aimed at resource efficiency, recycling and reduced environmental footprint.

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Frankfurt/Germany – Ineos Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, has agreed with Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller, a recognised leader in dairy products, to collaborate on developing a circular solution for polystyrene based on chemical recycling.

The joint project between Ineos Styrolution and Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller focuses on the use of polystyrene that is recycled via depolymerisation, a process that converts post-consumer polystyrene waste back to its monomers. The advantage of this process is the generation of high-quality virgin polystyrene ultimately for food-related use. In other words, yoghurt cups made of recycled polystyrene will have the identical properties as yoghurt cups made of conventional polystyrene.

Ineos Styrolution and Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller have agreed on a phased approach with a lab-scale phase to start this year, a pilot-scale phase starting in 2020 and a commercial-scale phase in 2022.

As an internationally operating food company, Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller is continuously investigating technological opportunities that offer potential with regard to a circular economy.

Sven Riechers, Vice President Business Management, Standard Business EMEA at Ineos Styrolution adds: “We are very excited to join forces with a leading market player like Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller. We are looking forward to a speedy and agile collaboration resulting in innovative solutions that may serve as an example in the industry.”

The recent announcement is part of Ineos Styrolution’s ambitious efforts aiming at circularity for styrenics to save valuable resources, recycle styrenic waste and reduce the ecological footprint. The company’s efforts include research projects, collaboration across the value chain and partnerships with customers to optimise solutions concerning sustainability aspects.

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