Axens, IFPEN, and JEPLAN Launch Commercialization of Rewind PET Chemical Recycling Process

In October 2023, Axens, IFPEN, and JEPLAN celebrated a significant milestone with the launch of the commercialization of the Rewind® PET chemical recycling process. This announcement follows the successful inauguration of a semi-industrial demonstration unit in Kitakyushu, Japan, and concludes a year-long testing phase. The Rewind® PET process is now ready for global licensing by Axens, marking a key advancement in the partners' commitment to accelerating the energy transition and fostering a circular economy for plastics—core elements of Axens' and IFPEN’s strategies.

The development of the Rewind® PET process began in 2020 when Axens, IFPEN, and JEPLAN formed a strategic alliance, with support from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME). The partnership led to the successful construction, commissioning, and operation of the semi-industrial unit in September 2023. Over the course of a year, the unit underwent extensive testing, validating the process' reliability and efficiency in treating post-consumer PET waste, particularly waste that is challenging to recycle mechanically. The success of these tests paved the way for the technology's commercialization.

Rewind® PET's unique chemical recycling process involves the continuous depolymerization of PET via glycolysis, followed by a thorough purification of the resulting monomer, BHET (Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl) terephthalate). One of its main advantages is the ability to separate additives and colorants, yielding a pure BHET monomer that can be easily re-polymerized in both existing and new polymerization plants. Recycled PET from this process has already been approved by major companies in the food packaging and cosmetics industries, showcasing its potential for widespread use.

Axens is now prepared to offer a complete Rewind® PET license package, including process design, performance guarantees, proprietary equipment, and technical support for customers around the world. The commercialization of this innovative process supports various industries, including packaging and textiles, in achieving ambitious recycling goals.

Quentin Debuisschert, Chairman and CEO of Axens, emphasized that Rewind® PET aligns with Axens’ global strategy for the plastics circular economy by offering chemical and physical recycling solutions to complement mechanical recycling. Pierre-Franck Chevet, President of IFPEN, highlighted the significance of the commercialization, which is the result of a decade of research and development. Masaki Takao, President and CEO of JEPLAN, expressed pride in being part of this collaborative effort, contributing to a sustainable future for the polyester packaging and textile industries.

Axens Group provides a comprehensive range of solutions for converting oil and biomass into cleaner fuels, producing and purifying key petrochemical intermediates, recycling plastics through chemical processes, treating and converting natural gas, as well as water treatment and carbon capture technologies.