Mura Technology and Dow
Global project for innovative plastics recycling is gaining further momentum

To ensure that the entry into a sustainable circular economy can succeed, globally active industrial companies such as igus GmbH (Cologne, Germany) are supporting the development of this technology. Dow Chemical, the world's second largest chemical company, is now another partner on board.

Chemical plastic recycling

With the "Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution" (HydroPRS), Mura Technology has developed a novel technology for chemical plastic recycling. The goal is to establish a sustainable circular economy for plastics and to 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 start-up 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 €5M in March. Now Dow Chemical, a global developer and producer of plastics, is joining 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 facility to use HydroPRS on a large scale is currently being built in Teesside, UK. The first line, with a capacity of 20 000 tonnes 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 tonnes 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 the 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: "It takes strong partnerships to help this technology achieve a breakthrough and thereby create a tangible effect for the environment. We are delighted for Mura that Dow is on board."

www.igus.de