Versalis SpA, a chemical company owned by Eni SpA, has opened a plant in the port of Marghera, near Venice, Italy, for the production of polystyrene (PS) made entirely or partially from mechanically recycled raw materials.
The company uses the recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from the recycling of polyethylene (EPS) to produce up to 20,000 metric tons of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) per year.
The products produced by the new factory will contain 35% - 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. These products belong to the Welsalis Revive product line, which is specifically geared towards mechanically recycled products. The products manufactured at the Marghera plant are primarily aimed at the packaging and construction industries, including insulation boards for buildings and protective packaging for household appliances.
In a statement on March 24, Versalis stated that the project "effectively addresses the structural crisis affecting the European chemical industry," strengthens Versalis' product portfolio, and enhances its market competitiveness. The company noted that the plant is located close to Versalis' other facilities in Mantova, Ferrara, and Ravenna, providing "efficient logistics" support for the supply chain of raw materials and finished products.
Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, stated, "The new plant at the Marghera Port is the first step in the transformation of the Versalis petrochemical hub in Venice, in line with the recent Transformation and Restart Plan that the company signed with the Ministry for Enterprises and Made in Italy. At the Marghera Port, we plan to invest in expanding the mechanical plastic recycling platform and consolidating and enhancing the logistics center, including ethylene cryogenic storage facilities."
