France's first advanced plastics recycling plant starts production. Plastic Energy and TotalEnergies have started production at their joint advanced plastics recycling plant at Grandpuits near Paris. The TEPEAR facility has an annual capacity of 15,000 tonnes and uses Plastic Energy's patented technology to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into circular feedstock.
The plant produced its first batch of TACOIL, a circular alternative to fossil-based feedstocks, earlier this year. The recycled oil is processed at TotalEnergies' petrochemical sites to produce plastics suitable for food-contact packaging and medical-grade applications.
Plastic Energy's technology is already in commercial use at two plants in Spain. Currently, less than 30 per cent of the roughly 32 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in Europe each year is currently recycled.
Packaging firm Pact Group has invested in Plan B Circular, the UK textile-to-textile polyester recycler behind Project Re:claim, its joint venture with the Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL). The deal aims to scale polyester recycling ahead of EU legislation expected in 2028.
Sixteen international partners led by Danish Technological Institute have launched InFACT, a project to turn household flexible plastic waste such as crisp packets, coffee bags and meat films into new packaging, including food packaging. Less than 15 per cent of this material is currently recycled.