March 24, 2025 – On March 11, 2025, BASF and Braven Environmental, a leader in advanced recycling, officially signed a groundbreaking supply agreement for Braven PyChem®. This innovative recycled feedstock, derived from mixed plastic waste, will partially replace fossil resources at BASF’s BTP plant in Port Arthur, Texas, marking a significant step forward in BASF’s commitment to advancing the circular economy.
Under the terms of the agreement, Braven will supply BASF with ISCC PLUS-certified Braven PyChem® from its multi-unit facility in Texarkana, Texas. Produced using Braven’s proprietary pyrolysis technology, the feedstock primarily comes from plastic waste streams recovered from landfills and incineration facilities. Notably, Braven can produce nearly 200 gallons of Braven PyChem™ for every ton of plastic waste processed, showcasing its efficient and environmentally friendly recycling capabilities.
According to insights from AsiaMB’s industry network, BASF plans to integrate PyChem® into its ChemCycling® process, utilizing a third-party audited mass balance approach to ensure that the proportion of recycled plastic can be accurately allocated to specific products within the value chain. These products, marked with the “Ccycled®” label, offer performance equivalent to those made from fossil-based raw materials and can be widely used in high-standard applications such as construction and automotive industries, providing customers with more sustainable options.
The global plastic recycling market is experiencing robust growth. In 2024, the market size surpassed 50billionandisprojectedtoexceed110 billion by 2033. Numerous countries and regions are introducing regulations and policies to promote plastic recycling. The European Union leads globally in plastic recycling, with its newly released Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation imposing strict requirements on the recycling rates and recycled content of plastic packaging. Several U.S. states have also implemented related policies and are striving to establish a unified national recycling standard. Countries like Thailand and India are actively implementing plastic waste management programs, setting clear recycling targets.
In the domestic market, China’s waste plastic recycling volume reached 19 million tons in 2023, a 5.6% increase year-on-year, with a recycling value of 103 billion yuan. The production of recycled plastics also shows a steady growth trend, with recycled PET, PE, and PP being the main varieties. During the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, recycled and recovered materials became a hot topic in the field of new chemical materials, with several industry leaders offering valuable suggestions to drive the transformation and upgrading of the waste plastic recycling industry.
Domestic enterprises have also made significant progress in the plastic recycling sector. JB Group has successfully established a plastic recycling industry chain, achieving chemical recycling from waste plastic to new recycled plastic. Shenghong Group has built the world’s first green industry chain, producing polyester fibers from discarded water bottles and carbon dioxide, demonstrating the immense potential of the circular economy. These innovative practices by enterprises provide strong support for the sustainable development of the industry.