Brazilian petrochemical giant, Braskem, has announced its intent to partner with US-based chemical recycling start-up, Encina, to produce a recycled propylene feedstock for Braskem to produce recycled polypropylene (PP).

Helpful background:

Encina announced plans over the summer to build a $255 million plant in the first half of 2021. Like many other chemical recyclers, Encina's process technology involves the pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste—but this company's main goal is to produce BTX from that waste. That BTX can be used to produce a variety of different petrochemicals (check out this flow diagram here).

But Braskem wants propylene?

While Encina's process will mainly produce BTX, the company discovered a capability that allows them "to convert about 20–30% of its end product to refinery-grade propylene". Braskem is a world leader in the polymerization of propylene and wants to be able to produce large amounts of recycled PP from this feedstock in the future.

Read the press release here.

Poland's state-controlled largest refiner, PKN Orlen, has announced its new strategy for the years leading up to 2030.

So what are the plans?

The company said it will be spending about $23 billion on "new prospective growth areas, related mainly to renewable energy and advanced petrochemicals" and $15 billion on enhancing "the efficiency of the Group’s existing assets.". Those changes will reduce PKN Orlen's CO2 emissions by 20% in its refining and petrochemical assets and 33% in its power-generation business.

What that will look like:

The Polish refiner said that "half of the Group’s profits from crude oil processing will be derived from the petrochemical business" by 2030. The company intends on increasing its production of olefins, base chemicals, and polymers in the coming years. Part of that plan includes investments in biomaterials and recycling (they want to produce 400,000 tons of recycled plastics per year by 2030).

Read the press release here.

Finland's pulp and paper manufacturer, Stora Enso, has announced a $17 million investment in the production of granulated lignin at its Sunila Mill in Finland.

Granulated lignin?

Lignin is a naturally occurring polymer that makes up roughly 20-30% of the dry mass of wood. The biobased material can be used "as a phenol replacement in adhesives, as a bio-based natural binder replacing bitumen in asphalt, and in bioplastics".

What are they saying?

This granulated form of lignin is reportedly "a more efficient way of handling dry lignin and delivering it in bulk containers". The company describes lignin as one of "the key innovation areas for delivering growth on new applications, such as energy storage, binders, and carbon fiber.".

Read the press release here.