Dow and Mura to build Europe’s largest advanced recycling plant in Germany

Latest: The Dow Company, a leading global materials science company, and Mura Technologies, a global pioneer in advanced recycling solutions for plastics, today announced the latest development in a long-term collaboration between the two companies.

First planned state-of-the-art recycling facility at a Dow corporate site

Mura will build a new facility at Dow’s manufacturing site in Böhlen, Germany, the latest in a series of recycling plant plans by the two companies in Europe and the U.S. to rapidly scale advanced recycling of plastics This is an important part of the largest investment commitment to date and the first planned advanced recycling facility at a Dow corporate site. The final investment for the project will be decided by the end of 2023.

Mura’s future state-of-the-art recycling facility at Dow’s Boren site

Mura’s new plant in Boren, Germany, is expected to be operational in 2025, with an annual production capacity of about 120,000 tonnes of advanced recycling at full capacity. By 2030, the plant and other facilities to be built in Europe and the United States in the future, the total advanced recycling capacity is expected to reach 600,000 tons, and will also make Dow the largest global user of recycled raw materials for polyethylene production. .

Each ton of plastic recovered by advanced recycling processes reduces carbon emissions by approximately 1.5 tons

According to reports, Mura’s hydrothermal plastic recycling solution, HydroPRS™, is a unique advanced recycling process that, through supercritical steam, can recycle most of the plastics previously considered “non-recyclable” (including soft and multi-layer plastics) Recycled and converted back into the oils and chemicals used to make plastics in the first place. These raw materials can then be used to produce new, virgin-like plastic products that are even suitable for food-grade packaging.

Through Mura’s process, the same material can be recycled over and over again, meaning it is possible to eliminate single-use plastic and prevent it from going to landfill or being incinerated. A further carbon reduction benefit is that, compared to incineration, plastics recycled through advanced recycling processes can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.5 tons per ton, while reducing reliance on fossil-based raw materials.

Dow aims to leverage location synergies to significantly reduce the cost of scaling advanced recycling production. In addition, Mura’s facility is located within the Dow facility, which minimizes the transportation of off-the-shelf products, thereby reducing carbon emissions, and the advanced recycling process’ gaseous emissions can be converted to plastic, ensuring that no by-products become waste.

Diego, President, Packaging and Specialty Plastics Business Unit, Dow Corporation
Donoso said: “We are continuing to increase Dow’s capacity for recycled raw materials and continue to invest in the most efficient technologies available to enable our plastics circular business model. The diversification of raw materials and decarbonization of assets will have Helping achieve Dow’s goal of building a sustainable and low-carbon future and meeting strong and growing customer demand for recycled polymers. This will be an important step in reducing our reliance on virgin fossil-based feedstocks.”

Significantly increased supply of full-cycle raw materials

The planned new plant project builds on Dow’s ongoing long-term collaboration with Mura. The two parties announced their first cooperation project in 2021, building the world’s first plant using Mura’s HydroPRS™ process, located in Teesside, UK, which is expected to be operational in 2023, with a first production line capacity of 2 tons. The planned Boren, Germany facility, which will be co-located with Dow’s manufacturing facilities, will significantly increase plastic waste handling capacity and significantly increase the supply of fully circular raw materials to the industry. This recycled raw material from plastic waste that should currently be incinerated or landfilled could reduce reliance on fossil raw materials and will allow Dow to produce products that are highly valued by global brands—especially from food and medical Recycled plastics, which are in high demand by brand owners in high-end markets.

Steve, CEO of Mura Technologies
Mahon said: “Tackling the global plastic waste crisis requires innovative solutions to drive a circular economy. Mura’s partnership with Dow results in the largest commitment to date in the industry. Dow’s continued support of Mura, Bringing a high financing commercial arrangement, the deepening of the collaboration will allow both companies to achieve their stated goals in the advanced recycling space.”