The Global Market for Advanced Chemical Recycling

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Published: July 2024
Pages: 283
Tables: 60
Figures: 54
Series: Bio-Economy

The global plastics industry is facing a growing challenge - the need to address the environmental impact of plastic waste. As traditional waste management methods struggle to keep pace, advanced chemical recycling and dissolution technologies have emerged as a crucial solution to transform the industry towards a more sustainable, circular model. This The Global Market for Advanced Chemical Recycling 2025-2040 provides an in-depth analysis of the rapidly evolving landscape of chemical recycling and dissolution.

Report contents include:

Market Forecasts and Capacity Projections (2025-2040)
Detailed global and regional market size projections
Capacity forecasts by technology type (pyrolysis, gasification, depolymerization, dissolution)
Polymer-specific demand forecasts for PE, PP, PET, PS, Nylon, and others
Analysis of market penetration rates and adoption curves
Comprehensive overview of advanced chemical recycling processes
- In-depth analysis of pyrolysis (catalytic and non-catalytic)
- Gasification technologies and syngas utilization pathways
- Depolymerization methods (hydrolysis, glycolysis, methanolysis, aminolysis)
- Dissolution and solvent-based purification techniques
- Emerging technologies: hydrothermal cracking, microwave-assisted pyrolysis, plasma processes
- Carbon fiber recycling technologies and market
Regional Market Analysis
Industry Developments and Competitive Landscape:
- Comprehensive overview of industry news, partnerships, and acquisitions (2020-2024)
- Analysis of funding trends and investment patterns
- Profiles of 170+ companies shaping the advanced chemical recycling landscape. Companies profiled include Agilyx, APK AG, Aquafil, Carbios, Eastman, Extracthive, Fych Technologies, Garbo, gr3n SA, Hyundai Chemical Ioniqa, Itero, Licella, Mura Technology, revalyu Resources GmbH, Plastogaz SA, Plastic Energy, Polystyvert, Pyrowave, RePEaT Co., Ltd., Synova and SABIC.
- Assessment of competitive strategies and market positioning
Value Chain Analysis:
- Detailed examination of the advanced chemical recycling value chain
- Key players at each stage: waste collection, sorting, pre-treatment, recycling, and end-use markets
- Analysis of integration strategies and emerging business models
End-Use Markets and Applications
Sustainability Metrics and Life Cycle Assessments:
- Comparative LCAs of advanced chemical recycling vs. mechanical recycling and virgin plastic production
- Environmental impact analysis: energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource efficiency
- Discussion of carbon footprint reduction potential and circular economy benefits
Insights into recycling yields for different technologies and polymer types
Cost structures and economies of scale in advanced recycling processes
Market pricing trends for chemically recycled plastics and competitive positioning
Regulatory Landscape and Policy Drivers
Market Drivers and Challenges

This comprehensive report is an indispensable tool for:

Plastic manufacturers and processors looking to incorporate recycled content
Waste management companies exploring advanced recycling opportunities
Chemical and petrochemical companies entering the circular economy space
Technology developers and equipment manufacturers in the recycling sector
Investors and financial institutions assessing market potential and risks
Policymakers and regulators shaping the future of plastic waste management
Sustainability professionals and environmental organizations tracking industry progress
Researchers and academics studying circular economy solutions

1 CLASSIFICATION OF RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES 16

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 17

3 INTRODUCTION 18

3.1 Global production of plastics 18
3.2 The importance of plastic 19
3.3 Issues with plastics use 19
3.4 Bio-based or renewable plastics 20
- 3.4.1 Drop-in bio-based plastics 20
- 3.4.2 Novel bio-based plastics 21
3.5 Biodegradable and compostable plastics 22
- 3.5.1 Biodegradability 22
- 3.5.2 Compostability 23
3.6 Plastic pollution 23
3.7 Policy and regulations 24
3.8 The circular economy 25
3.9 Plastic recycling 27
- 3.9.1 Mechanical recycling 30
  - 3.9.1.1 Closed-loop mechanical recycling 30
  - 3.9.1.2 Open-loop mechanical recycling 30
  - 3.9.1.3 Polymer types, use, and recovery 31
- 3.9.2 Advanced recycling (molecular recycling, chemical recycling) 32
- 3.9.2.1 Main streams of plastic waste 32
- 3.9.2.2 Comparison of mechanical and advanced chemical recycling 33
3.10 Life cycle assessment 33

4 THE ADVANCED CHEMICAL RECYCLING MARKET 35

4.1 Market drivers and trends 35
4.2 Industry news, funding and developments 2020-2024 36
4.3 Capacities 46
4.4 Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology 49
- 4.4.1 PE 49
- 4.4.2 PP 50
- 4.4.3 PET 52
- 4.4.4 PS 53
- 4.4.5 Nylon 54
- 4.4.6 Others 56
4.5 Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology, by region 57
- 4.5.1 Europe 57
- 4.5.2 North America 59
- 4.5.3 South America 60
- 4.5.4 Asia 62
- 4.5.5 Oceania 63
- 4.5.6 Africa 65
4.6 Chemically recycled plastic products 67
4.7 Market map 69
4.8 Value chain 70
4.9 Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of advanced plastics recycling processes 71
- 4.9.1 PE 72
- 4.9.2 PP 72
- 4.9.3 PET 73
4.10 Recycled plastic yield and cost 73
- 4.10.1 Plastic yield of each chemical recycling technologies 73
- 4.10.2 Prices 74
4.11 Market challenges 74

5 ADVANCED RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES 76

5.1 Applications 76
5.2 Pyrolysis 77
- 5.2.1 Non-catalytic 78
- 5.2.2 Catalytic 79
  - 5.2.2.1 Polystyrene pyrolysis 81
  - 5.2.2.2 Pyrolysis for production of bio fuel 81
  - 5.2.2.3 Used tires pyrolysis 85
    - 5.2.2.3.1 Conversion to biofuel 86
  - 5.2.2.4 Co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic wastes 87
- 5.2.3 SWOT analysis 88
- 5.2.4 Companies and capacities 89
5.3 Gasification 91
- 5.3.1 Technology overview 91
  - 5.3.1.1 Syngas conversion to methanol 92
  - 5.3.1.2 Biomass gasification and syngas fermentation 96
  - 5.3.1.3 Biomass gasification and syngas thermochemical conversion 96
- 5.3.2 SWOT analysis 97
- 5.3.3 Companies and capacities (current and planned) 98
5.4 Dissolution 99
- 5.4.1 Technology overview 99
- 5.4.2 SWOT analysis 100
- 5.4.3 Companies and capacities (current and planned) 101
5.5 Depolymerisation 102
- 5.5.1 Hydrolysis 104
  - 5.5.1.1 Technology overview 104
  - 5.5.1.2 SWOT analysis 105
- 5.5.2 Enzymolysis 106
  - 5.5.2.1 Technology overview 106
  - 5.5.2.2 SWOT analysis 107
- 5.5.3 Methanolysis 108
  - 5.5.3.1 Technology overview 108
  - 5.5.3.2 SWOT analysis 109
- 5.5.4 Glycolysis 110
  - 5.5.4.1 Technology overview 110
  - 5.5.4.2 SWOT analysis 112
- 5.5.5 Aminolysis 113
  - 5.5.5.1 Technology overview 113
  - 5.5.5.2 SWOT analysis 113
- 5.5.6 Companies and capacities (current and planned) 114
5.6 Other advanced chemical recycling technologies 115
- 5.6.1 Hydrothermal cracking 115
- 5.6.2 Pyrolysis with in-line reforming 116
- 5.6.3 Microwave-assisted pyrolysis 116
- 5.6.4 Plasma pyrolysis 117
- 5.6.5 Plasma gasification 118
- 5.6.6 Supercritical fluids 118
- 5.6.7 Carbon fiber recycling 119
  - 5.6.7.1 Processes 119
  - 5.6.7.2 Companies 122
5.7 Advanced recycling of thermoset materials 123
- 5.7.1 Thermal recycling 124
  - 5.7.1.1 Energy Recovery Combustion 124
  - 5.7.1.2 Anaerobic Digestion 124
  - 5.7.1.3 Pyrolysis Processing 125
  - 5.7.1.4 Microwave Pyrolysis 126
5.7.2 Solvolysis 127
5.7.3 Catalyzed Glycolysis 128
5.7.4 Alcoholysis and Hydrolysis 129
5.7.5 Ionic liquids 130
5.7.6 Supercritical fluids 130
5.7.7 Plasma 131
5.7.8 Companies 132

6 COMPANY PROFILES 134 (170 company profiles)

7 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 276

8 REFERENCES 278

List of Tables

Table 1. Types of recycling. 16
Table 2. Issues related to the use of plastics. 19
Table 3. Type of biodegradation. 23
Table 4. Overview of the recycling technologies. 29
Table 5. Polymer types, use, and recovery. 31
Table 6. Composition of plastic waste streams. 32
Table 7. Comparison of mechanical and advanced chemical recycling. 33
Table 8. Life cycle assessment of virgin plastic production, mechanical recycling and chemical recycling. 33
Table 9. Life cycle assessment of chemical recycling technologies (pyrolysis, gasification, depolymerization and dissolution). 34
Table 10. Market drivers and trends in the advanced chemical recycling market. 35
Table 11. Advanced chemical recycling industry news, funding and developments 2020-2024. 36
Table 12. Advanced plastics recycling capacities, by technology. 46
Table 13. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PE (million tonnes). 49
Table 14. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PP (million tonnes). 50
Table 15. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PET (million tonnes). 52
Table 16. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PS (million tonnes). 53
Table 17. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for Nylon (million tonnes). 54
Table 18. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for Other types (million tonnes).* 56
Table 19. Global polymer demand in Europe, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 57
Table 20. Global polymer demand in North America, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 59
Table 21. Global polymer demand in South America, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 60
Table 22. Global polymer demand in Asia, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 62
Table 23. Global polymer demand in Oceania, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 63
Table 24. Global polymer demand in Africa, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 65
Table 25. Example chemically recycled plastic products. 67
Table 26. Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of Advanced Chemical Recycling Processes. 71
Table 27. Life cycle assessment of mechanically versus chemically recycling polyethylene (PE). 72
Table 28. Life cycle assessment of mechanically versus chemically recycling polypropylene (PP). 72
Table 29. Life cycle assessment of mechanically versus chemically recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 73
Table 30. Plastic yield of each chemical recycling technologies. 73
Table 31. Chemically recycled plastics prices in USD. 74
Table 32. Challenges in the advanced chemical recycling market. 74
Table 33. Applications of chemically recycled materials. 76
Table 34. Summary of non-catalytic pyrolysis technologies. 78
Table 35. Summary of catalytic pyrolysis technologies. 79
Table 36. Summary of pyrolysis technique under different operating conditions. 83
Table 37. Biomass materials and their bio-oil yield. 84
Table 38. Biofuel production cost from the biomass pyrolysis process. 85
Table 39. Pyrolysis companies and plant capacities, current and planned. 89
Table 40. Summary of gasification technologies. 91
Table 41. Advanced recycling (Gasification) companies. 98
Table 42. Summary of dissolution technologies. 99
Table 43. Advanced recycling (Dissolution) companies 101
Table 44. Depolymerisation processes for PET, PU, PC and PA, products and yields. 103
Table 45. Summary of hydrolysis technologies-feedstocks, process, outputs, commercial maturity and technology developers. 104
Table 46. Summary of Enzymolysis technologies-feedstocks, process, outputs, commercial maturity and technology developers. 106
Table 47. Summary of methanolysis technologies-feedstocks, process, outputs, commercial maturity and technology developers. 108
Table 48. Summary of glycolysis technologies-feedstocks, process, outputs, commercial maturity and technology developers. 110
Table 49. Summary of aminolysis technologies. 113
Table 50. Advanced recycling (Depolymerisation) companies and capacities (current and planned). 114
Table 51. Overview of hydrothermal cracking for advanced chemical recycling. 115
Table 52. Overview of Pyrolysis with in-line reforming for advanced chemical recycling. 116
Table 53. Overview of microwave-assisted pyrolysis for advanced chemical recycling. 116
Table 54. Overview of plasma pyrolysis for advanced chemical recycling. 117
Table 55. Overview of plasma gasification for advanced chemical recycling. 118
Table 56. Summary of carbon fiber (CF) recycling technologies. Advantages and disadvantages. 120
Table 57. Retention rate of tensile properties of recovered carbon fibres by different recycling processes. 121
Table 58. Recycled carbon fiber producers, technology and capacity. 122
Table 59. Current thermoset recycling routes. 123
Table 60. Companies developing advanced thermoset recycing routes. 132

List of Figures

Figure 1. Global plastics production 1950-2021, millions of tonnes. 18
Figure 2. Coca-Cola PlantBottle®. 21
Figure 3. Interrelationship between conventional, bio-based and biodegradable plastics. 21
Figure 4. Global production, use, and fate of polymer resins, synthetic fibers, and additives. 24
Figure 5. The circular plastic economy. 26
Figure 6. Current management systems for waste plastics. 27
Figure 7. Overview of the different circular pathways for plastics. 29
Figure 8. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PE (million tonnes). 50
Figure 9. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PP (million tonnes). 51
Figure 10. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PET (million tonnes). 53
Figure 11. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for PS (million tonnes). 54
Figure 12. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for Nylon (million tonnes). 55
Figure 13. Global polymer demand 2022-2040, segmented by recycling technology for Other types (million tonnes). 57
Figure 14. Global polymer demand in Europe, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 58
Figure 15. Global polymer demand in North America, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 60
Figure 16. Global polymer demand in South America, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 61
Figure 17. Global polymer demand in Asia, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 63
Figure 18. Global polymer demand in Oceania, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 64
Figure 19. Global polymer demand in Africa, by recycling technology 2022-2040 (million tonnes). 66
Figure 20. Market map for advanced plastics recycling. 70
Figure 21. Value chain for advanced plastics recycling market. 71
Figure 22. Schematic layout of a pyrolysis plant. 77
Figure 23. Waste plastic production pathways to (A) diesel and (B) gasoline 82
Figure 24. Schematic for Pyrolysis of Scrap Tires. 86
Figure 25. Used tires conversion process. 87
Figure 26. SWOT analysis-pyrolysis for advanced recycling. 88
Figure 27. Total syngas market by product in MM Nm³/h of Syngas, 2021. 92
Figure 28. Overview of biogas utilization. 94
Figure 29. Biogas and biomethane pathways. 95
Figure 30. SWOT analysis-gasification for advanced recycling. 97
Figure 31. SWOT analysis-dissoluton for advanced recycling. 100
Figure 32. Products obtained through the different solvolysis pathways of PET, PU, and PA. 102
Figure 33. SWOT analysis-Hydrolysis for advanced chemical recycling. 105
Figure 34. SWOT analysis-Enzymolysis for advanced chemical recycling. 107
Figure 35. SWOT analysis-Methanolysis for advanced chemical recycling. 109
Figure 36. SWOT analysis-Glycolysis for advanced chemical recycling. 112
Figure 37. SWOT analysis-Aminolysis for advanced chemical recycling. 113
Figure 38. NewCycling process. 142
Figure 39. ChemCyclingTM prototypes. 146
Figure 40. ChemCycling circle by BASF. 146
Figure 41. Recycled carbon fibers obtained through the R3FIBER process. 148
Figure 42. Cassandra Oil process. 159
Figure 43. CuRe Technology process. 167
Figure 44. MoReTec. 208
Figure 45. Chemical decomposition process of polyurethane foam. 211
Figure 46. OMV ReOil process. 223
Figure 47. Schematic Process of Plastic Energy’s TAC Chemical Recycling. 227
Figure 48. Easy-tear film material from recycled material. 245
Figure 49. Polyester fabric made from recycled monomers. 249
Figure 50. A sheet of acrylic resin made from conventional, fossil resource-derived MMA monomer (left) and a sheet of acrylic resin made from chemically recycled MMA monomer (right). 260
Figure 51. Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd. Depolymerisation process. 265
Figure 52. The Velocys process. 271
Figure 53. The Proesa® Process. 272
Figure 54. Worn Again products. 274

The Global Market for Advanced Chemical Recycling 2025-2040

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