The pilot test demonstrates MOL’s ability to convert circular feedstock, namely post-consumer plastic waste-based feedstock into high-quality polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). This marks a major step in MOL Group’s SHAPE TOMORROW strategy to integrate circular economy into production and establish itself as a leader in sustainable petrochemicals in Central and Eastern Europe.
“This test shows that MOL Group can now process circular feedstocks according to ISCC PLUS certified process, turning plastic waste into new, high-value products,” said Péter Császár, Senior Vice President, MOL Group Chemicals. “It is a significant step towards sustainable petrochemicals and strengthens our position as a leading circular economy player in Central and Eastern Europe.”
During the pilot, circular feedstock based on post-consumer waste was introduced to MOL’s steam cracker. This process allows the production of circular-based monomers (the smallest building block of plastics) and then converts them into polymers. During the process, the mass balance approach was applied, a methodology that tracks and accounts for circular material when processed together with traditional inputs, ensuring the balance of the total process flows.
This achievement follows the ISCC PLUS certification, which was achieved by MOL Petrochemicals in Tiszaújváros and Slovnaft in Bratislava in 2024 for steam cracker and polymerisation units. Maximising synergies with waste management is central to MOL Group’s SHAPE TOMORROW strategy. The company aims to continue the transformation towards circular chemicals and to utilise up to 1.5 million t of feedstock for the energy industry by 2030. This is supported by a growing portfolio that includes a concession to manage municipal waste in Hungary, past acquisitions in plastics recycling in Hungary and partnerships to advance chemical recycling technologies.
MOL Group will continue testing additional circular feedstocks and developing new processes to expand the role of waste as a raw material for plastics production.