MOCOW (MRC) -- Repsol achieves another important milestone in its commitment to boost the circular economy and stands as a pioneer in the production of certified circular polyolefins, which use plastic waste as raw material, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.
In 2015, Repsol experimentally began to feed oil from chemically recycled plastic waste, leading the implementation of plastic waste chemical recycling on an industrial scale. Repsol has obtained ISCC PLUS certification for its complex in Puertollano for the first tons of circular polyethylene and polypropylene that are already commercially available to its customers in Europe.
Repsol’s circular polyolefins are produced by feeding, as an alternative raw material, oils obtained from plastic waste not suitable for mechanical recycling. This waste would otherwise go to landfill. This new raw material is fed alongside conventional raw material at its refinery, reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources. By ISCC Plus certification, Repsol can allocate these savings on a specific share to the polyolefins produced in the complex.
These certified materials ensure the traceability of the plastic waste used at the source and at the same time, offer the same quality and functionality as virgin polyolefins. The new portfolio of circular polyolefins grants Repsol and its value chain a new portfolio of products
made from recycled material for applications that demand high standards of hygiene and safety, making them ideal for food packaging.
This certification proves Repsol's commitment to innovation, to the excellence of its processes, and collaboration with third parties. The company anticipates significant trends, offering leading products that help its customers meet the consumers' demand for more sustainable products and to promote the transition towards a new circular economy.
As MRC informed earlier, Spain’s Repsol will shut down its cracker in Tarragona (Spain) for maintenance in the fourth quarter of 2019. The turnaround at this steam cracker, which produces 702,000 mt/year of ethylene and 372,000 mt/year of propylene, was pushed back from Q3 2019. The exact dates of maintenance works are not disclosed.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,436,390 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, up by 9% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 909,260 tonnes in January-August 2019, up by 10% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.
Repsol S.A is an integrated Spanish oil and gas company with operations in 28 countries. The bulk of its assets are located in Spain.
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