Aduro Clean Technologies selects Chemelot Industrial Park for its FOAK plant, advancing circular plastic recycling and large-scale commercial deployment.
Aduro Clean Technologies Inc., an innovative clean technology company focused on applying advanced chemistry to convert lower-value materials into high-value resources, has announced Chemelot Industrial Park (CIP) in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands, as the selected location for its planned industrial scale-up facility. The site is situated within the Chemelot chemical complex, one of Europe’s most prominent integrated chemical industry hubs.
The new facility will house Aduro’s First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) industrial plant utilizing its proprietary Hydrochemolytic Technology for the chemical recycling of waste plastics. This project builds upon successful pilot-scale demonstrations and marks the next step toward full commercial deployment. Previously referred to as the Demonstration Plant in public disclosures, the FOAK facility is designed to operate under real industrial conditions, enabling optimization, performance validation, and further capacity expansion over time.
Chemelot Industrial Park offers a well-established industrial ecosystem that includes chemical and materials production facilities, shared utilities, centralized wastewater treatment, and harmonized safety and operational standards. The site benefits from an overarching environmental permitting framework that supports efficient and predictable industrial development. Chemelot has publicly committed to transforming into a climate-neutral and circular chemistry hub, emphasizing the increased use of non-fossil and circular feedstocks. As an established center for steam cracking and polymer production, the site provides an ideal environment for technologies producing circular hydrocarbon intermediates that can substitute fossil-based naphtha.
Located within the Chemelot complex, Brightlands Chemelot Campus functions as a collaborative innovation and scale-up platform for the chemical and materials sectors. The campus provides access to applied research expertise, laboratories, and shared development infrastructure that support the transition from research to industrial implementation. Aduro has been engaged with the Brightlands ecosystem since 2021 as part of its European technology development efforts, making Chemelot a familiar and supportive environment for continued growth.
Aduro’s decision follows a comprehensive site-selection process launched in late 2025 under its structured scale-up program. The company evaluated multiple potential locations across Europe, eventually narrowing the list to four finalist sites. Northwest Europe emerged as the preferred region due to its advanced waste management systems, strong concentration of downstream industrial partners, accessible end markets, and regulatory momentum supporting circular materials and recycling technologies.
Chemelot was ultimately chosen for its ability to support permanent industrial operations and long-term expansion. Key factors included access to reliable utilities, proximity to regional steam cracking infrastructure, integration within an established circular plastics value chain, availability of feedstock, and alignment with European regulatory and permitting requirements. Additionally, Chemelot’s position within the Netherlands’ broader circular chemistry ecosystem provides strong connectivity to downstream offtake markets and industrial partners transitioning toward sustainable feedstocks.
The FOAK plant is expected to commence operations with an initial processing capacity of approximately 10,000 tonnes per year. The selected site offers sufficient space and infrastructure to accommodate phased expansion, reinforcing Aduro’s long-term industrial presence in the region.
Commenting on the announcement, Aduro CEO Ofer Vicus stated that selecting Chemelot represents a major milestone in the company’s scale-up strategy. He emphasized that the facility is intended to bridge the gap between pilot validation and commercial operations, producing market-relevant outputs while supporting future growth. Chemelot’s industrial integration and expansion capability, he noted, make it a strong foundation for Aduro’s broader commercialization plans.
Chemelot’s leadership, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, and regional authorities also welcomed the investment, highlighting its contribution to circular chemistry, low-carbon innovation, and the strengthening of Europe’s sustainable industrial base.
