OMV has reached a significant milestone in the chemical industry after 15 years of pioneering research and development. The company has now started up the next-scale expansion of its proprietary ReOil® technology at the Schwechat refinery near Vienna. The new plant can process up to 16,000 metric tons of hard-to-recycle mixed plastic waste annually—equivalent to the plastic waste generated by 160,000 Austrian households each year.
OMV’s Vision for Circular and Sustainable Materials
Alfred Stern, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of OMV, said, “The essential materials of the future need to become more sustainable and circular. OMV’s chemical recycling technology plays a pivotal role in driving growth in our Chemicals segment. The start-up of the new ReOil plant marks a significant milestone on our path towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Complementing mechanical recycling, ReOil processes plastic waste that would otherwise remain unrecyclable, reintegrating it into the value chain. Through our Strategy 2030, we are advancing circularity as a cornerstone of our responsible transformation”.
ReOil®: A Pioneering Solution for Plastic Waste
OMV developed ReOil® in 2009, making it a global pioneer in chemical recycling. The technology enhances plastic sustainability by reintegrating valuable resources into the value chain, preventing their disposal through incineration or landfill.
The process transforms post-consumer mixed plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, a raw material for sustainable base chemicals. These chemicals are then used in food packaging, healthcare products, and electric vehicle components. The environmental impact of ReOil is significant—by 2030, chemical recycling at ReOil could reduce CO₂ emissions by 34% compared to incineration.
Successful Pilot Operations Lead to Expansion
OMV has operated a ReOil® pilot plant at its Schwechat refinery since 2018, achieving nearly 30,000 cracking hours and processing over 2.1 million kilograms of plastic waste sustainably. The success of the pilot plant led OMV to scale up operations and build a larger facility, which is now fully operational. Both ReOil plants hold ISCC PLUS certification.
Next Steps: Full-Scale Industrial Plant
OMV is now developing a first-of-its-kind full-scale industrial plant for chemical recycling. The final investment decision remains subject to internal approvals. However, on March 12, 2025, OMV secured up to EUR 81.6 million in EU funding for the industrial ReOil plant—the largest public grant ever awarded to the OMV Group.
As per the press release, by expanding ReOil, OMV is taking a major step toward circularity in plastics. It reinforces its leadership in sustainable chemical recycling.
