Recycling cooperation expanded: igus partner Mura Technology cooperates with Dow

The conversion of plastic back to oil in just 25 minutes – that is the promise of the “Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution” from the startup Mura Technology. To ensure that the entry into a sustainable circular economy can succeed, globally active industrial companies such as igus are supporting the development of this technology. Dow Chemical, the world’s second largest chemical company, is now another partner on board.

With the “Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution” (HydroPRS), Mura Technology has developed a novel technology for chemical plastic recycling. The aim is to establish a sustainable circular economy for plastics and prevent plastic waste from entering the environment. The method uses water, heat and pressure to convert plastic waste back into oil in just 25 minutes. The startup Mura Technology has already entered into collaborations with engineering services company KBR and motion plastics specialist igus. igus was the first industry investor at the end of 2019 and had further increased its investment to €5 million in March. Now Dow Chemical, a global developer and producer of plastics, joins as another major partner. The collaboration will further drive the scaling of Mura’s advanced recycling process

Plastic waste becomes new packaging

The world’s first plant to use HydroPRS on a large scale is currently under construction in Teesside, UK. The first line, with a capacity of 20,000 tons per year, is expected to be operational in 2022. Once all four lines are completed, Mura will be able to recycle up to 80,000 metric tons of plastic waste per year and supply Dow with the raw materials generated by the process. Dow will use these to develop new plastics for food packaging and other packaging products that will eventually be recycled back into global supply chains. Dow’s involvement is also intended to demonstrate that Mura’s solution can meet both sustainability and performance requirements of the industry, and that products made with HydroPRS can be used on a large scale to produce new plastics. igus Managing Director Frank Blase also welcomes the cooperation, saying, “It takes strong partnerships to help this technology make a breakthrough, resulting in a tangible effect for the environment. We are happy for Mura that Dow is on board.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.igus.de/