SABIC and ReVentas collaborate on new purification technology for mechanical recycling

ReVentas, a Scottish innovation start-up and a leading provider of sustainable recycling solutions, will use its expertise to work with SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, using new technology to purify used plastic that could otherwise end up in landfill or be incinerated.

Reventas has an innovative technology, which has the potential to remove characteristics from used plastic such as colours, odours and additives that can make mechanical recycling more complex. With its technology, the company aims to take waste plastic and turn it to a “like-new” state, enabling better recycling and allowing the plastic to be used in new applications.

ReVentas said that this newly discovered technology was able to be explored and developed due to funding received from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and administered by Climate Action NGO WRAP, as it was an awarded recipient under the International Circular Plastics Flagship Competition.

“The collaboration supports SABIC’s commitment of driving a circular economy for plastics and our target to process 1 million tonnes of our TRUCIRCLE solutions annually by year 2030,” Lina Prada, Director, Polymer Application Development & Industry Solutions at SABIC, commented.

“Mechanically recycled products have been one of our more sustainable solutions that we offer under our TRUCIRCLE initiative, and we are very happy to start a collaboration with ReVentas and work together to further increase the volumes of used plastics that can be recycled mechanically.”

ReVentas is commissioning a pilot plant and actively engaging with partners across the supply chain to bring their innovative solutions to a wider audience. Through this collaboration, the team will be able to use SABIC’s resources and expertise to bring their product to market with plans for a commercial plant to be running by 2026.

“We are delighted to partner with one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies to develop a technology that will help reduce our impact on the climate and our planet,” Tom Rose, CEO of ReVentas, said. “ReVentas is committed to working with SABIC to create a future where we prevent plastic becoming waste, but instead, a valuable resource that can be used to create new products.”