New Trinseo PMMA Depolymerization Plant Reimagines Plastics Value Chain With Sustainability In Mind

Rhea-AI Summary

Trinseo (NYSE: TSE) inaugurates a PMMA depolymerization plant in Rho, Italy, scheduled to be commissioned in Q1 2024, marking a significant step towards reshaping the plastics ecosystem as part of the circular economy. The facility enables efficient recycling of PMMA-based materials, supporting the goal of circularity and promoting sustainability-driven innovation.

Technology produces quality on par with virgin material without sacrificing performance

-Process enables the efficient recycling of PMMA-based materials

-Scheduled to be commissioned Q1 2024 in Rho, Italy

-Supports continued transformation of the company’s portfolio to focus on sustainability-driven innovation

WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Trinseo (“Trinseo” or “the Company”) (NYSE: TSE), a specialty material solutions provider, is helping advance the potential of sustainable plastics with the inauguration of its next generation, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) depolymerization plant in Rho, Italy. Scheduled to be commissioned in Q1 2024, this demonstration facility marks a pivotal step towards reshaping the plastics ecosystem as part of the circular economy. PMMA, renowned for its versatility in various applications, will be transformed through this advanced recycling and purification process where it can go back into the plastics value chain and support the goal of circularity. This depolymerization operation will be designed to enable the efficient recycling of end-of-life PMMA, as well as other difficult to recycle structures, which will ultimately be used to produce acrylic resins, sheets, and compounds containing recycled materials.

Trinseo Manufacturing Operations, Rho, Italy. Site of future demonstration PMMA depolymerization facility. (Photo: Business Wire)

Depolymerization is a chemical recycling technology which is complementary to more traditional mechanical recycling processes. While mechanical recycling is vital to a successful circular economy, depolymerization creates brand new opportunities by reducing the polymer back to its constituent monomers. This allows for the recycling of a wider variety of PMMA-based materials, supporting an increase in recycled content and overall recycling rates, and helping reduce the manufacturing demand for virgin materials.

“Innovation in recycling technologies is imperative to effectively recycle various types of materials. This new facility is yet another major achievement towards a scalable system with the goal of making PMMA a truly circular material of high quality,” said Trinseo’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Francesca Reverberi. “When combined with our own in-house sourcing and treatment of collected materials through our Heathland recycling operation, our PMMA depolymerization plant will offer a high-performance solution for a world increasingly looking for new ways to address sustainability in the plastics supply chain,” added Reverberi.

Trinseo’s depolymerization facility is being developed around a continuous recovery model to produce high quality recycled PMMA that matches the quality of its virgin counterpart, promoting a circular plastics value chain without compromising performance. Using this advanced recycling technology, the introduction of recycled monomer into the supply chain helps support achieving targets for lowering carbon emissions, water consumption, and the conservation of natural resources, as indicated by the MMAtwo project's environmental benefits calculator. A shift towards PMMA depolymerization can help deliver sustainability benefits for consumers, manufacturers, and industries alike. From car lamps to signage and more, this technology creates the opportunity to give a range of everyday products a second life and beyond.

Material produced using the depolymerization process will be integrated as part of Trinseo's distinctive “R-Life” portfolio designed around a commitment to sustainability, covering both mechanically and chemically recycled PMMA grades. These products find applications across mobility, construction, and consumer goods, aligning with the growing demand for products that are developed with sustainability in mind.

About Trinseo

Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a specialty material solutions provider, partners with companies to bring ideas to life in an imaginative, smart and sustainably focused manner by combining its premier expertise, forward-looking innovations and best-in-class materials to unlock value for companies and consumers.

From design to manufacturing, Trinseo taps into decades of experience in diverse material solutions to address customers’ unique challenges in a wide range of industries, including building and construction, consumer goods, medical and mobility.

Trinseo’s approximately 3,300 employees bring endless creativity to reimagining the possibilities with clients all over the world from the company’s locations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Trinseo reported net sales of approximately $5.0 billion in 2022. Discover more by visiting www.trinseo.com and connecting with Trinseo on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and WeChat.

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This press release may contain forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, projections, forecasts, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are not statements of historical facts or guarantees or assurances of future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words like "expect," "anticipate," “believe,” "intend," "forecast," "outlook," "will," "may," "might," "see," "tend," "assume," "potential," "likely," "target," "plan," "contemplate," "seek," "attempt," "should," "could," "would" or expressions of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s evaluation of information currently available and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy, our current indebtedness, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Factors that might cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully implement proposed restructuring initiatives, including the closure of certain plants and product lines, and to successfully generate cost savings and increase profitability; our ability to successfully execute our business and transformation strategy; increased costs or disruption in the supply of raw materials; increased energy costs; compliance with laws and regulations impacting our business; conditions in the global economy and capital markets; our ability to meet the covenants under our existing indebtedness; our ability to successfully investigate and remediate chemical releases on or from our sites, make related capital expenditures, reimburse third-party cleanup costs or settle potential regulatory penalties or other claims; and those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, under Part I, Item 1A —"Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our other reports, filings and furnishings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. As a result of these or other factors, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231206633138/en/

Brian Risinger

Director, Corporate Communications

brisinger@trinseo.com

Source: Trinseo

FAQ

What is the significance of Trinseo's PMMA depolymerization plant in Rho, Italy?

The PMMA depolymerization plant is a pivotal step towards reshaping the plastics ecosystem as part of the circular economy, enabling efficient recycling of PMMA-based materials to support the goal of circularity and sustainability-driven innovation.

When is the PMMA depolymerization plant in Rho, Italy scheduled to be commissioned?

The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in Q1 2024.

How does the depolymerization process support sustainability in the plastics supply chain?

The depolymerization process enables the efficient recycling of end-of-life PMMA and other difficult to recycle structures, ultimately producing high quality recycled PMMA that matches the quality of its virgin counterpart, promoting a circular plastics value chain without compromising performance.

What are the applications of the material produced using the depolymerization process?

The material produced using the depolymerization process will be integrated into Trinseo's distinctive 'R-Life' portfolio, finding applications across mobility, construction, and consumer goods, aligning with the growing demand for products developed with sustainability in mind.