INEOS and Recuro sign MoU for advanced recycling facility in Norway

The initiative, named ‘Full Circle’, is designed to combine environmental responsibility with economic viability by recycling waste using existing industrial infrastructure, land and services, an approach that reduces both the associated costs and overall environmental footprint.

Powered entirely by renewable Norwegian energy, the plant will be designed to operate with minimal emissions and utilise advanced pyrolysis technology, which maximises the recovery of embedded carbon from plastic waste by retaining both the oil and gas fractions produced during recycling for further use, rather than diverting them to energy generation. Carbon is essential for producing the materials used in everyday products, and keeping carbon-based materials such as plastics in circulation is key to reducing overall CO₂ emissions.

INEOS will use the recycled product as feedstock to produce recycled ethylene at its Rafnes cracker, enabling the nearby Bamble plant to manufacture virgin-quality recycled polyethylene that meets the EU’s stringent regulatory requirements for high-performance applications such as food and medical packaging – this will lead to higher overall recycling rates.

“What makes the ‘Full Circle’ project stand out is its holistic approach,” said Arve Jakobsen, CEO of Recuro. “By reusing an existing industrial site, optimising infrastructure, and locating the plant next to a steam cracker facility, we can recover and reuse both oil and gas streams. This is circularity in its truest form.”

The project also represents a major milestone for Recuro as it advances its ambition to become a leading player in plastic recycling. “Great outcomes are possible through strong partnerships,” Jakobsen added. "This exciting project has been made possible by the support we have received from the Norwegian government through Innovation Norway, our technology partner, Vixla, and of course, INEOS.”

Liz Rittweger, CEO of INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe, commented: “Advanced recycling plays a critical role in expanding the potential for plastics recycling and closing the loop for high-performance applications. This project reflects INEOS’ commitment to making a low-carbon circular economy a reality for our customers and wider society. Regulators can support this effort with clear, harmonised rules that recognise advanced recycling outputs, create legal certainty, and give investors the confidence to invest in new technologies at scale.”

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/10072026/ineos-and-recuro-sign-mou-for-advanced-recycling-facility-in-norway/