Expected to be operational in 2024, the plant is intended to produce recycled food-contact polystyrene material

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Food-contact PS is an ideal material for food packaging, and recycled food-contact PS helps contribute to the circularity of packaging materials. (Credit: Business Wire)

Speciality material solutions provider Trinseo and the Netherlands-based GMP Group have announced a joint collaboration to establish polystyrene (PS) recycling plant in Europe.

Expected to be operational in 2024, the plant is intended to produce recycled food-contact polystyrene material.

The partnership between Trinseo and GMP intends to create a framework for collaboration, on an exclusive basis, for the building and operation in the Netherlands by GMP of an advanced pretreatment or regeneration facility with a minimum 25kt capacity.

By using the Super Clean recycling method, the factory will purify PS trash and offer high-quality recovered PS pellets.

Additionally, a long-term tolling and off-taking deal are planned for execution.

Trinseo Plastics and Feedstocks senior vice president Nicolas Joly said: “The Trinseo–GMP collaboration is yet another important move toward helping our customers reach their sustainability goals and closing the loop for a circular economy, and both companies realize that the most successful way to do this is through synergy along the value chain.

“This collaboration shows our continuous efforts in sustainability marching toward our 2030 sustainability goals.”

GMP Group general director Gerard Putman said: “This partnership is an essential step forward in our strategies contributing to a healthier world and increased sustainability.

“Every day, we look for circular business innovations like valuing plastic waste by recycling it into new resources. Together with Trinseo, we can now develop, build, and operate a state-of-the-art recycling plant in Europe.”

Putman added: “This will increase the reuse of a substantial volume of polystyrene in consumer food packaging. Furthermore, we can provide other sustainability solutions and improve circularity in various value chains.”

Both companies will study additional supply and processing options, pooling their respective technological know-how to create more environmentally friendly solutions.

In February this year, Trinseo announced its plans to set up a chemical recycling plant in Tessenderlo, Belgium.