July 9, 2026 14:56

Chemical group Ineos has signed a memorandum of understanding with Norway’s Recuro to build a new plant for the chemical recycling of plastic waste through pyrolysis, with a processing capacity of up to 33,000 tonnes per year. The initiative has been named “Full Circle”.

Powered by renewable energy and designed to recover oil and gas fractions from pyrolysis, the new unit is expected by the two partners to be built at Ineos’ Bamble site in Norway (pictured), using existing industrial infrastructure.

The recycled feedstock obtained from pyrolysis will replace fossil raw materials in ethylene production at the nearby Rafnes cracker, enabling the manufacture of virgin-quality recycled polyethylene suitable for demanding applications such as food and medical packaging. The project is also intended to help meet requirements under new European packaging regulations.

At Bamble, Ineos operates two lines for the production of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), used in food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging and cable coating applications.

The pyrolysis technology developed by Recuro is based on induction heating to bring the material to controlled thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen. The aim is to achieve more uniform and controllable heating of the reactor, improving process stability and energy efficiency.
“What makes the ‘Full Circle’ project stand out is its holistic approach,” said Arve Jakobsen, CEO of Recuro. “By reusing an existing industrial site, optimising infrastructure, and locating the plant next to a steam cracker facility, we can recover and reuse both oil and gas streams. This is circularity in its truest form.”

“Advanced recycling plays a critical role in expanding the potential for plastics recycling and closing the loop for high-performance applications,” added Liz Rittweger, CEO of Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe. “This project reflects INEOS’ commitment to making a low-carbon circular economy a reality for our customers and wider society.” “Regulators can support this effort with clear, harmonised rules that recognise advanced recycling outputs, create legal certainty, and give investors the confidence to invest in new technologies at scale.”

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