WAYNE, PA — Specialty material solutions provider Trinseo (NYSE: TSE) has announced the inauguration of its next-generation polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) depolymerization plant in Rho, Italy. Set to be commissioned in Q1 2024, this demonstration facility represents a significant step towards reshaping the plastics ecosystem as part of the circular economy.
PMMA, known for its versatility across various applications, will undergo an advanced recycling and purification process at this plant. The resulting product can re-enter the plastics value chain, supporting the goal of circularity. This depolymerization operation will efficiently recycle end-of-life PMMA and other challenging structures, ultimately producing acrylic resins, sheets, and compounds containing recycled materials.
Depolymerization, a form of chemical recycling, complements traditional mechanical recycling processes. By breaking down the polymer back to its constituent monomers, it enables the recycling of a broader variety of PMMA-based materials. This process supports increased recycled content and overall recycling rates, and helps reduce the manufacturing demand for virgin materials.
Francesca Reverberi, Trinseo’s Chief Sustainability Officer, highlighted the importance of innovation in recycling technologies. “This new facility is yet another major achievement towards a scalable system with the goal of making PMMA a truly circular material of high quality,” she said. She added that combined with their Heathland recycling operation, their PMMA depolymerization plant offers a high-performance solution for a world increasingly seeking sustainable options in the plastics supply chain.
Trinseo’s depolymerization facility employs a continuous recovery model to create high-quality recycled PMMA that matches the quality of its virgin counterpart. This promotes a circular plastics value chain without compromising performance. The introduction of recycled monomer into the supply chain helps lower carbon emissions, reduces water consumption, and conserves natural resources, as indicated by the MMAtwo project’s environmental benefits calculator.
The material produced using the depolymerization process will be integrated into Trinseo’s distinctive “R-Life” portfolio. This line is designed around a commitment to sustainability, covering both mechanically and chemically recycled PMMA grades. These products find applications across mobility, construction, and consumer goods sectors, aligning with the growing demand for products developed with sustainability in mind.
The move towards PMMA depolymerization promises significant sustainability benefits for consumers, manufacturers, and industries. From car lamps to signage and more, this technology presents the opportunity to give a range of everyday products a second life and beyond.
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