Vioneo partners with Lummus to build world’s first fossil-free polypropylene plant in Antwerp, using green methanol feedstock and renewable energy.
Lummus Technology, a leading global provider of advanced process technologies and sustainable energy solutions, has been selected by Vioneo as the polypropylene (PP) technology partner for a groundbreaking project in Antwerp, Belgium. Vioneo is building the world’s first industrial-scale fossil-free plastics complex, which will operate entirely on green methanol-derived feedstocks and renewable energy sources.
The facility, currently under development, will mark a major milestone in the plastics industry’s journey toward decarbonization. Once completed, it will be powered largely by renewable electricity, utilize renewable hydrogen, and rely on segregated green propylene and ethylene for production. By fully eliminating fossil feedstocks, the project will demonstrate that large-scale fossil-free plastics are both technically feasible and economically sustainable.
Leon de Bruyn, President and CEO of Lummus Technology, highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration. “Vioneo’s vision of developing the world’s first fossil-free polypropylene production facility is both bold and transformative. Lummus is proud to contribute with our proven Novolen® technology, which enables the production of high-performance polypropylene grades through a low-emissions process without compromising on flexibility or quality.”
The Antwerp plant will have an annual capacity of 200 kilotons (KTA) and will produce a wide spectrum of polypropylene grades. Using 100 percent certified green propylene and ethylene, the plastics generated at the site will be completely traceable and CO2 negative. This means that customers adopting these materials can significantly reduce their Scope 3 emissions while maintaining the same performance as fossil-based polypropylene.
Alex Hogan, CEO of Vioneo, emphasized the broader industry implications: “Our project proves that it is possible to manufacture fossil-free plastics on an industrial scale using methanol-derived feedstocks. Partnering with Lummus Technology and its leading Novolen® process for our Antwerp facility is essential to realizing this vision. With certified green olefins produced from established Methanol-To-Olefins technology, we can deliver a diverse range of drop-in bio-polypropylene grades that will help accelerate a sustainable plastics economy.”
Lummus’ responsibilities will go beyond licensing its technology. The scope of work includes providing the process design package, supporting the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage, and supplying catalysts for ongoing operations.
The Novolen® PP technology forms part of Lummus’ Verdene™ technology suite, which is tailored to help polymer producers shift toward bio-based feedstocks. The Verdene™ portfolio encompasses technologies for manufacturing polyethylene, polypropylene, and super absorbent polymers entirely from renewable sources. A distinctive feature of this suite is its potential to reduce or even generate net-negative carbon dioxide emissions by sequestering CO2-based carbon within the polymers themselves. Importantly, these bio-polymers retain identical performance characteristics to those derived from fossil hydrocarbons, ensuring seamless adoption across industries.
This collaboration represents a defining step for both Vioneo and the wider plastics sector in proving the commercial and environmental viability of fossil-free plastics at industrial scale.
