Dutch circular chemistry technology developer BioBTX is building the world’s first commercial-scale plant to convert mixed plastic waste into high-quality aromatic chemicals. The facility will use BioBTX’s proprietary ICCP (Integrated Catalytic Cracking Process) technology to produce valuable chemical building blocks from waste that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill. Covestro has been a shareholder and strategic partner of Groningen-based BioBTX since 2024, with a mid-single-digit million-euro investment.
New Plant to Create 35 Jobs
The facility will be constructed at Chemical Park Delfzijl on the northern coast of the Netherlands and is expected to create around 35 new jobs. BioBTX’s ICCP technology uses catalytic pyrolysis to process mixed plastic waste and convert it into aromatic oil containing benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX). These chemicals serve as essential building blocks for a wide range of applications, including coatings, pharmaceuticals and performance materials. Furthermore, the resulting aromatics can be used to produce Covestro’s MDI and TDI isocyanates. These materials are used in polyurethane applications such as flexible foam for mattresses and rigid foam for refrigerator insulation.
Recycling 20,000 Tons of Waste Annually
Once operational, the plant is expected to recycle approximately 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year. At the same time, it is projected to produce around 10,000 tons of renewable aromatic oil and 8,000 tons of sustainable by-products annually. Importantly, the process could significantly reduce the environmental impact of aromatic chemical production. Compared with conventional fossil-based BTX production, BioBTX expects its technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the resulting chemical building blocks by 70–80%.
Advancing Circular Chemical Production
According to Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer at Covestro, the project represents an important step in demonstrating the technology at industrial scale. He also highlighted the importance of processing mixed plastic waste rather than relying solely on highly sorted waste streams. This approach could help expand chemical recycling and support the transition towards a more circular plastics and chemicals industry.
From Laboratory Development to Commercial Scale
For BioBTX, the project represents the culmination of a 14-year development journey that began with an idea in 2012 and progressed through laboratory and pilot-scale development to commercial execution. Ton Vries, Co-founder and CEO of BioBTX, said the milestone represents a major step towards the company’s goal of enabling circular chemistry and developing a fully sustainable aromatic plant. As per the press release, while the first commercial facility will focus on mixed plastic waste, the company’s ICCP technology is feedstock-flexible. Consequently, BioBTX could potentially apply the technology to other feedstocks in the future, including biomass. The project therefore marks a significant step towards producing aromatic chemicals from alternative feedstocks while reducing dependence on conventional fossil-based raw materials.
