Honeywell and Hienergy Announce Collaboration on Plastic Recycling Program

Honeywell recently announced a partnership with Beijing Hinergy Qingyuan Technology (Hinergy) to deploy its UpCycle Process Technology for advancing plastic recycling efforts in China. Hinergy plans to construct a recycling facility in Shandong Province utilizing Honeywell’s technology to convert mixed waste plastics into recycled polymer feedstock (RPF). The facility aims to process 30,000 tons of mixed waste plastics annually, highlighting a significant step towards sustainable waste management.

This collaboration aligns with Honeywell’s broader focus on driving the energy transition, a key pillar in the company’s strategic vision, alongside automation and the future of aviation. Honeywell’s UpCycle technology addresses the global challenge of plastic waste by reducing the reliance on virgin, fossil fuel-derived plastics. When integrated with chemical and mechanical recycling processes and enhanced waste collection and sorting methods, the technology has the potential to recycle nearly 90% of waste plastics—a dramatic improvement over current recycling rates.

Chen Donglin, Chairman of Hinergy, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, noting the growing market opportunities driven by global carbon reduction initiatives and China’s push for a circular economy. “Hinergy is fully committed to advancing technology and building projects that support China’s environmental protection industry. Partnering with Honeywell allows us to leverage their UpCycle Process Technology, enabling us to establish our first waste plastic recycling facility and contribute to China’s circular plastics economy,” Donglin said.

Honeywell’s UpCycle Process Technology employs advanced molecular conversion, pyrolysis, and contaminants management to transform a wider variety of waste plastics into RPF. This includes traditionally challenging materials like colored, flexible, multilayer packaging, and polystyrene. “Honeywell’s UpCycle Process Technology expands the range of plastics that can be recycled, helping to close the loop within the plastics supply chain while maintaining a lower carbon footprint,” said William Yu, President of Honeywell China. He expressed optimism about the collaboration, highlighting its potential to overcome limitations in conventional recycling and support China’s sustainability goals.

In addition to providing its UpCycle technology, Honeywell will deliver start-up engineering and comprehensive technical services, covering operations, optimization, monitoring, and maintenance throughout the facility’s lifecycle. This partnership not only enhances plastic recycling capabilities but also reinforces both companies' commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, positioning them at the forefront of China’s circular economy transformation.

Honeywell is a globally integrated company serving diverse industries across various regions. Company business is focused on three significant megatrends: automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition. These areas are driven by Honeywell Accelerator operating system and the Honeywell Forge IoT platform.