Together with Eni, we are committed to the strategy that aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This is why we are constantly developing research projects in the field of circular economy and carbon neutrality. The main examples are chemical recycling, mechanical recycling, decarbonisation of processes and products and sustainable mobility.
We allocate more than a quarter of our research resources to such projects.
We develop technologies and products with a circular perspective also through collaborations with Eni and with other technology partners as well as undertaking doctorates and developing European and international joint projects.
Here are our projects in the field of mechanical recycling:
- mechanical recycling of polyethylene: in line with the objectives set by the European Community for increasing the rate of recycling and reusing of plastic materials, we are committed to market material from recycled plastics. For the Polyethylene business, in cooperation with Montello, we have developed some grades based on HDPE and LDPE, with high recycled content (70%), through mechanical recycling processes and compounds marketed under the Versalis Revive® brand.
- mechanical recycling of styrenics: in the field of styrenic polymers, we have developed new grades of GPPS/HIPS, ABS and EPS containing recycled material, in compliance with European Community regulations. In doing so, we provide a concrete demonstration of sustainability in the various application sectors for which these grades are intended, such as single-use packaging for food contact, and the electrical, automotive and insulation sectors. For EPS grades, with the acquisition of the Ecoplastic plants, it will be possible to ensure the availability of secondary raw materials and simultaneously increase the volumes of Versalis Revive® grades. We are also working on a new proprietary technology to purify styrenic materials deriving from the sorting of plastic waste.
- mechanical recycling of elastomers: the aim is to meet the growing demand by Versalis’ customers for product sustainability. The existence of a well-organised collection chain for end-of-life tyres makes it possible to use this material as a new 'raw material'. To date, the main technologies for the mechanical recycling of elastomeric materials involve the pulverisation of products with direct use of the resulting powders in the mix, and devulcanization. Based on these guidelines, our range includes both projects using powder to be integrated into production processes and development of devulcanization technologies and products through our partnership with technology provider AGR.