Plastic Energy, Freepoint Eco-Systems and TotalEnergies to Build Advanced Recycling Plant

Plastic Energy Ltd., Freepoint Eco-Systems LLC and TotalEnergies have announced a strategic partnership focused on recycling in the U.S. Under this agreement, Plastic Energy and Freepoint Eco-Systems plan to build an advanced recycling plant in Texas, which will transform end-of-life plastic waste into a recycled feedstock called TACOIL using Plastic Energy’s patented technology. TotalEnergies will convert this raw material into virgin-quality polymers, which can be used for food-grade packaging.

The project will process and convert yearly 33,000 tons of post-consumer end-of-life plastic waste that would otherwise be destined for landfill or incineration. The plant is expected to become operational by mid-2024 with TACOIL to be used for the manufacturing of high-quality polymers in TotalEnergies’ Texas-based production units, enabling the creation of items such as flexible and rigid food packaging containers.

TotalEnergies and Plastic Energy announced in September 2020 a joint venture to build a plastic waste conversion facility with a capacity of 15,000 tons per annum at the TotalEnergies Grandpuits zero-crude platform in France. The project is expected to be operational in early 2023.

“We are delighted to announce Plastic Energy’s first project in the U.S., which is a region that has enormous potential for the plastic-to-plastic advanced recycling market. Using our patented and innovative technology, this new advanced recycling plant in the U.S. will be able to treat post-consumer waste that would otherwise be incinerated, landfilled or end up polluting the environment,” said Carlos Monreal, founder and CEO of Plastic Energy. “Working with Freepoint and TotalEnergies, we will be able to recycle more plastics and reduce the depletion of natural resources, which benefits the circular economy.”

“Freepoint Eco-Systems is thrilled to partner with these two like-minded firms in an effort to reduce plastic disposed in landfills and to increase the recycling of plastic that heretofore has been challenging to recycle. The Texas project will reduce the need for fossil feedstocks, which results in carbon left in the ground, a more sustainable economy and a healthier planet,” said Jeff McMahon, managing director of Freepoint.

“This strategic partnership in the U.S. following the construction of the first advanced recycling plant in France with Plastic Energy are important steps in the development of the advanced recycling of plastic waste worldwide as well as in the U.S. specifically. It shows our commitment to work with our customers to meet the growing demand for more innovative plastics with ever-higher performance, especially for durable applications. It will contribute to addressing the challenge of the circular economy and to achieve our ambition of producing 30% recycled and renewable polymers by 2030,” said Valérie Goff, senior vice president, Polymers at TotalEnergies.