NEXTCHEM will assess a PMMA chemical recycling plant for Röhm, advancing circularity, low-carbon MMA production, and sustainable materials innovation.
MAIRE has announced that its sustainable technology arm, NEXTCHEM, acting through its subsidiary MyRemono, has been awarded a site-specific feasibility study by Röhm. The study focuses on the development of a chemical recycling plant dedicated to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) waste at Röhm’s production site in Worms, located in southwest Germany. Röhm is a globally recognized leader in methacrylate chemistry, with extensive production and research operations across Europe, North America, and China.
This initiative forms a key part of Röhm’s long-term sustainability roadmap, which targets the complete elimination of incineration and landfilling of PMMA-related production waste by 2030. By transitioning to advanced recycling solutions, Röhm aims to reinforce circular economy principles within the PMMA value chain while significantly reducing environmental impact. The collaboration with NEXTCHEM underscores the growing importance of technology-driven partnerships in achieving ambitious decarbonization and circularity objectives across the chemical industry.
At the core of the feasibility study is NEXTCHEM’s patented NXRe™ technology. This proprietary solution is based on an advanced molten metal depolymerization process that enables the continuous chemical recycling of PMMA. The modular nature of the NXRe™ technology allows it to process both pre-consumer and post-consumer PMMA waste streams efficiently. Through this process, PMMA waste is converted back into ultrapure recycled methyl methacrylate (r-MMA), delivering product quality comparable to that of virgin MMA.
The proposed recycling facility is designed with an annual processing capacity of approximately 5,000 tonnes of PMMA waste and will be fully integrated into Röhm’s existing PMMA production infrastructure at the Worms site. This integration is expected to optimize operational efficiency, reduce logistical complexity, and ensure seamless reuse of recycled MMA within ongoing manufacturing processes.
One of the most significant benefits of NXRe™ technology is its environmental performance. Recycled MMA produced through this process is expected to achieve a carbon footprint reduction of more than 90% compared with conventional virgin MMA production routes. This substantial improvement is primarily driven by the replacement of fossil-based raw materials with PMMA waste, which is classified as a secondary raw material (SRM). By avoiding the extraction, processing, and transportation of virgin fossil resources, the process eliminates a major source of greenhouse gas emissions while giving new value to plastic waste.
The award of this feasibility study represents another important milestone in NEXTCHEM’s strategy to commercialize and license its PMMA NXRe™ technology globally. In parallel, construction of the first industrial-scale NXRe™ plant in Italy is already underway and is expected to be completed by 2026, further strengthening NEXTCHEM’s position in advanced chemical recycling.
Commenting on the development, Fabio Fritelli, CEO of NEXTCHEM, stated that NXRe™ PMMA technology plays a central role in the company’s sustainable materials strategy. He emphasized that the collaboration with Röhm represents a critical step toward the industrial deployment of advanced recycling solutions and highlights how strong partnerships can accelerate the energy transition. Together, NEXTCHEM and Röhm aim to reinforce Europe’s PMMA circularity ecosystem and drive innovation toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient future.
