Despite impending mandates and ambitious corporate targets, chemical recycling in Europe remains nascent today mostly due to unattractive economics. A new report published by Bain & Company revealed that the industry is worth over €400 billion in cumulative capex and cost parity with virgin plastics production could be achieved in 20-30 years. Plastics companies now have a window of opportunity to be early movers and reap material benefits. Recycling polyolefins—a common type of thermoplastics—in Europe costs more than twice as much as producing virgin polyolefins today. Market forces alone are…
Read MoreEurope’s chemical recycling requires over €400 billion in cumulative capex to compete with virgin plastics production – who will lead?
