WPU Plans Large-Scale Chemical Recycling Facility in Rotterdam

WPU is establishing one of Europe’s largest chemical recycling plants in Rotterdam, with a capacity to process 80,000 tonnes per year of end-of-life plastics. This will raise WPU's total recycling capacity to 100,000 tpy. Utilizing proprietary batch pyrolysis technology, the plant will convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, a circular feedstock for new chemicals and plastics, aiming for lower carbon intensity. The project addresses growing demand for circular feedstocks and supports European policy for decarbonising petrochemical value chains, with involvement from Vitol.

WPU is poised to construct a significant chemical recycling facility in Rotterdam, intended to be one of Europe’s largest plants for processing end-of-life plastics. The new facility will have an annual processing capacity of 80,000 tonnes, boosting WPU’s total recycling capacity to 100,000 tonnes, which includes its operational 20,000 tpy plant in Farevejle, Denmark. The plant will utilize WPU’s proprietary batch pyrolysis technology to convert post-consumer plastic waste into pyrolysis oil. This oil will function as a circular feedstock for the production of circular chemicals, intermediates, and new plastics, targeting a lower carbon intensity than fossil naphtha. This initiative is a response to increasing demand for circular feedstocks and is supported by European policies promoting higher recycled content and decarbonisation in petrochemical value chains. Jeffrey van Geloof, CEO of WPU, stated this project signifies a crucial step in scaling WPU's technology for the European market. Tom Baker, Vitol’s global head of naphtha, emphasized the facility's contribution to combating plastic waste, expanding alternative raw materials for the petrochemical sector, and reducing the carbon footprint of plastic manufacturing. Strategically located alongside Vitol’s Rotterdam refinery (VPR), the plant will benefit from existing industrial infrastructure. It will also integrate advanced furnace technology designed to reduce emissions and energy consumption, similar to successful deployments at VPR. The project is currently subject to necessary regulatory approvals and will involve comprehensive stakeholder consultation.