July 14, 2026 15:29

From warnings to action: British recycler Viridor has decided to close its European chemical recycling operations in Oslo, Norway, where the company is headquartered; Skive, Denmark, home to its pyrolysis plant; and Malmö, Sweden, where research and testing activities are conducted.
Viridor acquired the sites through its takeover of Quantafuel, completed in 2024.

“Following consultation with employee representatives and extensive efforts to explore alternative options, we have taken the difficult decision to close our European chemical recycling operations,” said Lee Hodder, Managing Director, Carbon Capture and Circular Solutions at Viridor.

The British company said demand for recycled materials had weakened, while cheaper virgin materials continued to undercut recycled alternatives. At the same time, policy and regulation were failing to provide the certainty, enforcement and long-term support needed to maintain operations.

Quantafuel’s Plastic-to-Liquid technology is based on the pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste unsuitable for mechanical recycling. The waste is converted into an oil that can replace fossil feedstocks in the cracking process, delivering environmental benefits. The resulting plastic, with recycled content attributed through mass balance, has properties equivalent to those of virgin material and can be used without restrictions, including in food-contact and medical applications.

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