Shell Chemicals Europe B.V. and GreenDot Group have joined forces to champion circularity in Europe's chemicals and polymers market. Following six months of collaboration, GreenDot has begun supplying pyrolysis oil derived from household plastic waste to Shell since March 2024. GreenDot's expertise in managing Germany's EPR scheme for 30 years provides a reliable source of feedstock, while Shell leverages its advanced technology to transform this oil into valuable resources for Europe's circular economy.

Shell Chemicals Europe B.V. is set to utilize pyrolysis oil in its Market Development Upgrader unit (MDU), currently under construction at the Shell Chemicals Park in Moerdijk, Netherlands. This advanced facility is anticipated to commence operations later this year. The MDU will process pyrolysis oil, a key component in Shell's strategy to incorporate more sustainable feedstocks into its chemical production processes, aligning with the company's broader commitment to advancing circular economy practices and reducing its environmental footprint.

Mark Vester, Managing Director of GreenDot Advanced Recycling, expressed satisfaction in supplying Pyrolysis Oil to Shell Chemicals Europe B.V., emphasizing that this collaboration is crucial for meeting the upcoming recycled content targets for polyolefins packaging. He noted that only a few years remain to achieve these targets, making industry collaboration essential. Vester highlighted that with GreenDot providing the volumes and Shell Chemicals Europe B.V. upgrading the pyrolysis oils, significant progress has been made towards enabling the large-scale delivery of circular polymers, effectively piecing together the necessary components for success in this sector.

Shell Chemicals Europe B.V. will refine pyrolysis oil to eliminate impurities, converting it into a cleaner feedstock for the production of circular chemicals. These chemicals will be further processed into circular polymers suitable for manufacturing plastic packaging. The resulting polymers will meet the stringent requirements for applications in animal nutrition, food contact, medical devices, and cosmetics, showcasing Shell's commitment to sustainability and innovation in creating high-quality, circular solutions for sensitive packaging needs.

GreenDot and Shell Chemicals Europe B.V. are open to exploring additional avenues for future volumes, aiming to supply more circular chemicals and polymers.

Diverting plastic waste from energy recovery, landfill, and the environment is crucial for advancing a true circular economy in Europe. Collaborating with downstream partners and brand owners will showcase the significant role advanced recycling technologies can play in meeting the rising demand for safe, circular use of recycled materials in food contact products. This effort supports the EU's objective of achieving 10% recycled content in contact-sensitive plastic packaging by 2030.