Ineos Styrolution has received the first commercial-scale delivery of recycled styrene monomer (SM) at its Antwerp site. The material was supplied by Indaver from its newly inaugurated depolymerisation plant, the first facility in Europe dedicated to polystyrene recycling.
The delivery marks the first time recycled styrene monomer has been supplied at scale in Europe. It enables the production of high-quality styrenics, including transparent grades for food-contact and medical applications.
According to Ineos Styrolution, the recycled feedstock complements its existing portfolio of mechanically recycled and bio-attributed products. “We are pleased that we can now offer styrenics from depolymerisation at market scale,” said Rob Buntinx, President EMEA, Ineos Styrolution. “This gives our customers more sustainable options to lower their environmental footprint without compromising quality or performance.”
Indaver highlighted the significance of its Plastics 2 Chemicals (P2C) initiative. “By converting hard-to-recycle plastics into virgin-quality feedstock such as styrene, we are closing the loop and offering a sustainable alternative to fossil resources,” stated Erik Moerman, Sales and Development Director P2C.
Depolymerisation breaks polystyrene down into its original building block, styrene monomer, allowing it to be reprocessed into new materials with identical quality to fossil-based products. The process is more energy-efficient than pyrolysis, keeps material in circulation, and reduces resource use and emissions.
This development underlines polystyrene’s unique recyclability, reinforcing its role in advancing the circular economy.
