USA – Plastics and chemical company Nova Chemicals has revealed plans to develop its first mechanical recycling facility in Connersville.
The facility will process post-consumer plastic films to produce the company’s SYNDIGO recycled polyethylene (rPE) at a commercial scale as early as 2025, delivering over 100 million pounds of rPE to the market by 2026.
NOVA Chemicals plans to expand its recycling footprint over the next several years to help it reach its industry-leading 2030 ambition of 30 percent recycled content as a share of its total polyethylene sales.
The company recently announced its 2030 Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership aspirations, including its anticipated investment of between US$2-4 billion by 2030 to expand its sustainable product offerings, decarbonize its assets, and build a state-of-the-art mechanical recycling business while exploring new advanced recycling technologies.
NOVA Chemicals President and CEO, Roger Kearns said: “NOVA Chemicals continues to show clear leadership in reshaping plastics for a better, more sustainable world.
“We are committed to helping our customers achieve their recycled content goals through a variety of business models and we look forward to making more announcements like this as we work to enable a low-carbon, zero plastic waste future.”
Approximately 125 people will be hired, making Nova one of Connersville’s largest private employers.
Nova said the site was selected because of its proximity to five metropolitan areas in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois, and convenient rail access for distribution of the rPE to customers.
The facility will be operated by Novolex Holdings, LLC (“Novolex”) – a leading developer of packaging products for foodservice and industrial markets – leveraging its more than 15 years’ experience in operating plastic film recycling facilities.
The collaboration will increase the speed with which NOVA Chemicals ramps up its supply of SYNDIGO™ rPE to the market.
Novolex Chairman and CEO, Stanley Bikulege added: “Novolex is proud to collaborate with NOVA Chemicals’ Circular Solutions and is excited by the opportunity to operate this state-of-the-art recycling facility in the Hoosier state.
“Indiana has long been a hub for sustainability, innovation, and business. The new plant will build on our experience of operating both our North Vernon plastics recycling facility in Indiana and our recycling plant in Wisconsin as well as accelerate our commitment to support recycling and the circular economy.”
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