BioBTX Breaks Ground on the World’s First Commercial Plant to Convert Mixed Plastic Waste Into Aromatics

BioBTX B.V. (Groningen, the Netherlands) is building the world’s first commercial-scale plant. Based on its independently developed ICCP (Integrated Catalytic Crackling Process) technology, the plant can convert mixed plastic waste into high-quality aromatic chemicals. Covestro AG (Leverkusen, Germany) has been both a shareholder and strategic partner of the Groningen-based company since 2024, holding a mid-single-digit equity stake worth several million euros.

The factory will create 35 new jobs and is located in the Delfzijl Chemical Park on the northern coast of the Netherlands. The factory will utilize BioBTX's proprietary ICCP technology to catalytically pyrolyze mixed plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled, producing aromatic oils containing benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). These substances are fundamental raw materials used in the chemical industry for coatings, pharmaceuticals, and high-performance materials, and they can also be supplied to Covestro for the production of isocyanates (MDI/TDI), which are used to manufacture soft foam for mattresses and rigid foam for refrigerator insulation.

Covestro Chief Technology Officer Dr. Thorsten Dreier said, “We have been following BioBTX’s development for many years and are now very pleased to see this technology reach the stage of industrial-scale validation. This is a highly significant step. In addition, the process handles mixed plastic waste rather than sorted single-plastic feedstock. To make the circular economy a reality, we need more scalable recycling technologies like this.”

该工厂预计每年可处理回收约2万吨废弃物，产出约1万吨可再生芳烃油以及8000吨可持续副产品。相较于传统化石基BTX生产工艺，这套技术生产得到的化工基础原料，其温室气体排放量预计可降低70%‑80%。

BioBTX co-founder and CEO Ton Vries stated: “Reaching this key milestone in BioBTX’s journey is an important step on our path to delivering on our mission of achieving circular chemistry. I am incredibly proud of the entire BioBTX team and our shareholders—this achievement is the result of everyone’s focused commitment. We are going to build the world’s first fully sustainable aromatics plant, which is an outstanding accomplishment!”

Starting from the concept in 2012, and through the laboratory and pilot stages to commercial implementation, this milestone marks a phased conclusion to a 14-year research and development journey. Although the first plant processes mixed plastic waste, ICCP technology possesses feedstock flexibility, with potential future expansion to other raw material sources such as biomass.