Ineos and Recuro to Build Advanced Recycling Facility in Norway
Ineos and Norwegian recycling company Recuro have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a state-of-the-art advanced recycling facility at Ineos’ Bamble polymer site in Norway.
Ineos and Recuro plan to build an advanced recycling plant in Norway that will process up to 33,000 metric tons of end-of-life plastic waste per year once commissioned. The project is intended to increase the availability of recycled feedstocks needed to meet the requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
The initiative, named “Full Circle,” is designed to combine environmental responsibility with economic viability. By using existing industrial infrastructure, land and services, the project aims to reduce both costs and the environmental footprint associated with recycling operations.
The plant will be powered entirely by renewable Norwegian energy and is being designed for low-emission operation. It will use advanced pyrolysis technology to maximize the recovery of embedded carbon from plastic waste. Both the oil and gas fractions generated during recycling will be retained for further use instead of being diverted to energy generation.
Ineos will use the recycled product as feedstock to produce recycled ethylene at its Rafnes cracker. The nearby Bamble plant will then be able to manufacture virgin-quality recycled polyethylene that complies with EU requirements for high-performance applications such as food and medical packaging. According to the partners, this should contribute 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, optimizing 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.”
For Recuro, the project marks an important step in its strategy to become a significant player in plastics 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, said: “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, harmonized rules that recognize advanced recycling outputs, create legal certainty, and give investors the confidence to invest in new technologies at scale.”
