Polymer distributor and recycler Ravago is joining forces with Neste to develop the chemical recycling of plastics waste with the aim to reach industrial scale. The companies have set a joint target to reach an annual capacity of more than 200,000 tonnes of waste plastics.

“Ravago’s geographical reach and expertise in plastics recycling together with Neste’s track record in upgrading challenging refinery feedstock provide an excellent foundation for demonstrating and scaling up chemical recycling with speed,” explained Mercedes Alonso, executive vice president for renewable polymers and chemicals at Neste.

Ravago’s chief executive Theo Roussis added that his company has been mechanically recycling polymers for nearly 60 years but believes that chemical recycling should also be part of a sustainable solution.

He added that the partnership “provides a solid foundation to enable the different nascent technologies to mature and the broader industry to take off”.

Chemical recycling will enable the companies to upgrade even coloured and mixed plastics packaging waste into high-quality raw material for the production of new plastics, chemicals and fuels.