Rain Industries announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Rain Carbon Inc., entered into a strategic collaboration with BioBTX BV to supply renewable aromatic products to the chemical industry. Through this partnership, the companies aim to support more circular and sustainable value chains by converting plastic waste into high-quality aromatic derivatives.
Plastic Waste to Renewable Aromatics
BioBTX, based in Groningen, the Netherlands, developed the proprietary Integrated Catalytic Cracking Process (ICCP) technology. The process enables the conversion of plastic waste into valuable aromatic hydrocarbons. In July 2026, BioBTX announced a positive Final Investment Decision for its first commercial-scale plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. The facility is expected to become operational in early 2028 and is designed to process plastic waste into approximately 10,000 tons per year of renewable aromatic oil. The oil will contain key aromatic compounds, including benzene, toluene and xylenes. Consequently, it can serve as a renewable feedstock for producing a range of chemical derivatives.
Rain Carbon to Process Circular Feedstock
Rain Carbon will process the circular aromatic oil into benzene, phthalic anhydride and other derivatives. These products are intended to deliver quality and performance comparable to conventional fossil-based alternatives. As a result, chemical manufacturers can potentially incorporate these renewable products into existing value chains while reducing their reliance on fossil-based raw materials. This drop-in approach could also help customers lower their carbon footprint without compromising product performance.
Partnership Supports Circular Chemical Value Chains
The collaboration combines BioBTX’s plastic-waste conversion technology with Rain Carbon’s expertise in carbon processing and distillation. Rain Carbon brings more than 150 years of experience in converting industrial by-products into essential carbon materials. Kris Vanherbergen, EVP Carbon Distillation and Advanced Materials at Rain Carbon, said the collaboration supports the company’s objective of creating value from alternative carbon sources. By combining the two companies’ technologies and processing capabilities, the partnership aims to develop renewable and circular solutions for the chemical industry.
Growing Demand for Circular Raw Materials
BioBTX CEO Ton Vries highlighted market interest in renewable aromatic products across industries such as pharmaceuticals, coatings, toys and automotive applications. As companies increasingly seek materials with higher recycled content and lower carbon footprints, demand for circular raw materials is also growing. Therefore, the collaboration between BioBTX and Rain Carbon could help expand the availability of renewable aromatic feedstocks for industrial applications. As reported by scan X, the partnership marks a step towards integrating plastic waste into chemical value chains and developing alternatives to fossil-based aromatic raw materials.
