October 28, 2024 – In a collaborative move that signals a significant advancement in the field of PET recycling, Japan Environment Planning Agency (JEPLAN), Axens, and IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) have jointly announced the global launch of their comprehensive Rewind®PET process package patent. This milestone marks a breakthrough achievement for the partners within the scope of their project cooperation.
After a year of rigorous testing in a demonstration plant, the Rewind®PET process has demonstrated exceptional performance, paving the way for its commercialization. This innovative chemical recycling technology is capable of processing a wide range of PET waste, including types that are difficult to recycle mechanically, with an annual production capacity of 1,000 tons post-commissioning. At the heart of this process lies a continuous ethylene glycol depolymerization step followed by an advanced purification phase, which together yield high-purity Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) monomers. What sets this technology apart is its ability to effectively separate various additives and colors, resulting in high-quality monomers that can be repolymerized into resin at existing polymerization plants.
According to industry insights, recycled PET products have already gained recognition from leading companies in the food packaging and cosmetics industries, underscoring their vast market potential. Furthermore, the Rewind®PET process is versatile in handling different types of PET waste, such as colored and opaque bottles, multi-layer composite boxes, packaging films, and polyester textiles. The head of JEPLAN reflected on the journey since the establishment of the KHP demonstration plant in 2017, which has been dedicated to translating the concept of bottle-to-bottle and garment-to-garment PET chemical recycling into tangible benefits. In a bid to further expand its scope of operations, JEPLAN sought partnerships and is now elated to collaborate with IFPEN and Axens to jointly propel the commercialization of the Rewind®PET process.