BlueAlp-led consortium secures US$1.8M to advance chemical recycling of flexible plastics

NETHERLANDS – A consortium led by Dutch chemical recycling specialist BlueAlp has secured €1.5 million (US$1.77m) in government funding to advance a next-generation chemical recycling solution for flexible plastics.

The project brings together BlueAlp, waste management group Renewi, energy major Shell and Utrecht University, and is supported by the Dutch Government through its National Growth Fund initiative via Circular Plastics NL.

Known as Project CLEAN (Catalytic Low-temp Efficiency for Advanced DecontaminatioN), the four-year research program focuses on improving the dewatering, decontamination and depolymerization of polyolefin films, enabling their conversion into chemical feedstocks through thermal pyrolysis.

The goal is to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in recycling plastics: removing contaminants from mixed, low-quality flexible waste streams in a cost-effective and scalable way.

At the core of the project is BlueAlp’s thermal pyrolysis technology, which the company says can replace virgin fossil-based feedstocks, lower overall energy consumption and deliver high-purity pyrolysis oil.

By improving oil quality and process efficiency, the consortium aims to unlock more circular applications for plastics such as food packaging, while reducing plastic leakage and supporting brand owners’ sustainability targets.

Each partner contributes complementary expertise across the value chain.

Renewi will apply its capabilities in the separation, sorting and densification of polyolefin films; Shell will focus on the upgrading and conversion of pyrolysis oil into chemical building blocks; and Utrecht University will develop advanced adsorption and catalytic materials to enhance contaminant removal and process performance.

Collectively, Project CLEAN is expected to demonstrate a more robust and economically viable approach to purifying recyclate from mixed plastic waste, helping to close the loop for materials that are currently difficult to recycle mechanically.

“Chemical recycling is happening at scale with our technology,” said BlueAlp CEO Valentijn de Neve.

“We are now looking at the next challenge that comes with scale—managing contaminants in an even more efficient way by looking across the value chain. I am proud of this consortium, where BlueAlp will work with Renewi, Shell and Utrecht University to bring new solutions to this space.”

The announcement comes amid accelerating investment in chemical recycling technologies worldwide.

Earlier this year, India-based PolyCycl said it would deploy Series A funding from Rainmatter by Zerodha to scale its process for converting low-grade plastic waste into liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks for low-carbon material production.

Separately, Plastic Energy recently reported progress at its Geleen facility in the Netherlands, where hard-to-recycle post-consumer plastics are being converted into pyrolysis oil for use in food-contact packaging, medical plastics and other high-value applications.

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