TotalEnergies takes full ownership of French chemical recycling facility

FRANCE – TotalEnergies has assumed complete ownership of the TEPEAR chemical recycling facility in Grandpuits, France, after Plastic Energy transferred its stake in the joint venture as part of a broader corporate restructuring.

The divestment follows founder Carlos Monreal’s return as chief executive of Plastic Energy, which has restructured its core operations around existing Spanish plants, industry partnerships and its proprietary TAC technology. 

The Grandpuits facility will continue operating at industrial scale under full TotalEnergies ownership, using Plastic Energy’s technology under licence. 

Monreal said the company was entering its next chapter with a clear focus on ensuring operational excellence at every plant using its technology, scaling up existing plants in Spain, deepening value-chain partnerships and advancing technology that would help close the loop on the global plastic value chain.

Technology Converts Difficult Waste Streams

Plastic Energy’s TAC technology is designed to convert hard-to-recycle plastic waste into recycled polymer feedstocks, addressing streams that mechanical recycling cannot process economically. 

The process complements conventional recycling by capturing mixed and contaminated plastics that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled.

Spanish Operations Continue Alongside Partnerships

Plastic Energy will continue operating its chemical recycling plants in Almeria and Seville, Spain. 

Last year, the company produced the first batch of pyrolysis oil, known as Tacoil, at its joint venture facility with Sabic. 

The oil serves as a replacement for conventional naphtha in existing petrochemical plants, enabling the manufacture of products including food-contact packaging and medical-grade plastics. 

This output pathway matters for brand owners seeking recycled content in applications where food safety regulations restrict mechanically recycled material.

Chemical Recycling Faces Scrutiny Over Viability

The ownership change arrives as chemical recycling projects across Europe confront questions about scalability, energy intensity and economic competitiveness against virgin polymer production. 

Several announced facilities have been delayed or cancelled amid uncertain regulatory support and volatile feedstock pricing. 

TotalEnergies’ decision to consolidate control suggests confidence in the Grandpuits operation’s industrial performance, while Plastic Energy’s retreat to technology licensing and Spanish assets reflects a narrower, capital-light model. 

The arrangement allows each party to concentrate on core strengths, with TotalEnergies managing large-scale operations and Plastic Energy supplying process technology and development expertise. 

The facility’s continued operation supports European Union targets for recycled content in packaging, which require substantial new capacity to meet legislative deadlines.

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