Trinseo introduces polystyrene, ABS, and SAN resins made with chemically recycled styrene, advancing circularity and sustainable material solutions globally.
Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a global leader in specialty material solutions and manufacturer of plastics and latex binders, has announced the availability of polystyrene (PS), ABS, and SAN resins produced with chemically recycled styrene monomer (rSM). This rSM is sourced through depolymerization from the newly operational recycling facility established by Trinseo’s partner, Indaver, in Antwerp, Belgium. The plant, which commenced production in August 2025, focuses on recovering styrene monomer from post-consumer polystyrene household packaging waste.
Trinseo’s product lines, including STYRON™ Polystyrene, MAGNUM™ ABS, and TYRIL™ SAN resins, can now be manufactured with this chemically recycled monomer under the mass balance principle. This ensures that the materials produced are functionally equivalent to their conventional fossil-based counterparts, including suitability for food contact applications, making them “drop-in” replacements.
For STYRON™ polystyrene resins, the integration of household packaging waste in the depolymerization recycling process represents a significant advancement toward circularity. For instance, commonly used products like yogurt cups can potentially be collected, processed, and recycled back into new containers of the same type. Beyond food packaging, STYRON™ resins also find applications in refrigerator liners, appliance components, and expanded polystyrene food trays.
MAGNUM™ ABS resins, meanwhile, are versatile in application, ranging from household goods such as toys and furniture to automotive components both for interior and exterior use. TYRIL™ SAN resins are suited for personal care products, appliance water tanks, and other durable consumer goods, highlighting the broad applicability of these recycled materials across multiple industries.
Ivan Angelov, Vice President of Polymer Solutions at Trinseo, remarked, “We are excited to begin receiving recycled styrene monomer from our partners at Indaver and incorporate it into our products. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to sustainability while enabling us to offer customers solutions with enhanced environmental credentials.”
The introduction of PS, ABS, and SAN produced using rSM complements Trinseo’s existing portfolio of bio-based, dissolution, and other sustainably advantaged materials. Additionally, Trinseo provides a comprehensive tool to calculate the cradle-to-gate Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) for its resins, offering clients transparent insights into the CO2 footprint of various grades. This approach allows stakeholders to make informed decisions when selecting sustainable materials.
With this initiative, Trinseo takes a notable step toward circularity and decarbonization in the plastics industry, bridging the gap between post-consumer waste and high-performance engineering resins while maintaining performance and regulatory compliance.
