Plastic Waste into Circular Polymers

For the inaugural time in the United States, TotalEnergies has successfully converted plastic waste feedstocks into circular polymers at its polypropylene facility in La Porte, Texas.

This facility, among the largest polypropylene sites globally, will manufacture sustainably certified polymers suitable for diverse applications, including food-grade packaging.

The petrochemical feedstock originated from New Hope Energy’s ISCC+ certified advanced recycling facility in Tyler, Texas. This feedstock underwent conversion into monomers at the BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals (BTP) facility – a joint venture between BASF and TotalEnergies based in Port Arthur, Texas – before being processed into circular polymers at TotalEnergies’ polypropylene plant in La Porte, Texas. Both the La Porte and BTP facilities obtained their ISCC+ certification in 2022.

TotalEnergies and New Hope Energy have further solidified their collaboration through a multi-year agreement, wherein New Hope Energy will supply TotalEnergies with petrochemical feedstock derived from plastics for recycled polymer production.

New Hope Energy utilizes a patented pyrolysis technology, developed in partnership with Lummus Technology, to process and convert mixed plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or be incinerated.

“This milestone, marking the first production of circular polymers from advanced recycling in the United States following Europe, underscores our dedication to fulfilling the increasing global demand for innovative and sustainable plastics,” expressed Heather Tomas, Vice President Polymers Americas. “It also aligns with our ambition to produce one million tons of circular polymers annually by 2030.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with TotalEnergies in our shared endeavor to revolutionize plastic for a cleaner environment,” remarked Rusty Combs, Chief Executive Officer of New Hope Energy.

“This supply agreement represents a significant stride toward achieving New Hope’s objective of establishing pyrolysis projects at a scale that significantly enhances the nation’s plastic recycling performance. We are grateful for the trust TotalEnergies has placed in both our team and our robust technology.”

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