Versalis, a chemical company owned by Eni, and Acea Ambiente, a subsidiary of Acea focused on waste management, have signed an agreement to promote advanced plastic recycling.
In a significant move to accelerate the circular economy in Italy, Versalis, Eni's chemical company, and Acea Ambiente, a prominent player in integrated waste management, have formalized a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The partnership, signed by the CEOs of both companies, Adriano Alfani of Versalis and Gabriele Di Cintio of Acea Ambiente, is poised to create a robust and sustainable industrial supply chain for recycled plastics like R-PET, leveraging both mechanical and advanced chemical recycling technologies.
The collaboration will see the two companies work in tandem to analyze and select plastic waste streams from Acea Ambiente's facilities. The goal is to determine their suitability for Versalis's cutting-edge recycling processes. This strategic integration is designed to ensure the production of high-quality recycled plastics, and the partnership is also open to potential joint investments in new facilities and the optimization of existing ones.
A key focus of the agreement is the joint assessment of advanced chemical recycling solutions, particularly Versalis's proprietary Hoop® technology. This technology is a game-changer as it can recover value from plastic waste that is otherwise unrecyclable through traditional mechanical methods, offering a solution for some of the most challenging waste streams. The Hoop® demonstration plant for mixed plastic waste has recently begun operations in Mantua, with an industrial-scale version capable of processing 40,000 tonnes per year planned for Priolo, as part of the broader Eni-Versalis Chemical Transformation Plan.
Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, highlighted the company's commitment to building a sustainable future. “This agreement reinforces our commitment to building a circular economy for plastics by combining our industrial and technological expertise with that of a strategic partner like Acea Ambiente,” he said. Alfani also pointed to recent milestones, including the launch of a new plant in Porto Marghera for mechanically recycled plastics with a capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes per year. “Our aim is to build more sustainable, scalable supply chains that add value to plastic waste and support the transition towards a low-emissions future.”
Gabriele Di Cintio, CEO of Acea Ambiente, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the strategic importance of the collaboration. “This agreement is a strategic step towards an integrated industrial model that recovers value from plastic waste, making a tangible contribution to the country’s circular economy while strengthening our role in the ecological transition and the progressive decarbonization of industrial processes,” Di Cintio stated.
