Versalis pioneers sustainability with new recycled polymer plant in Italy

ITALY – Versalis, the chemical division of Eni, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art recycling plant at Porto Marghera, Italy, to produce high-quality plastics from mechanically recycled raw materials.

This facility marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to circular economy principles and sustainable innovation.

With an annual production capacity of 20,000 tonnes, the plant will manufacture crystal polystyrene and expandable polystyrene (EPS) using secondary raw materials derived from recycled EPS waste.

These materials will be integrated into the Versalis Revive range, which contains between 35% and 100% post-consumer recycled plastics.

The primary applications for these sustainable polymers include thermal insulation panels for the construction industry and protective packaging for household appliances.

By incorporating recycled content, Versalis aims to reduce reliance on virgin resources while maintaining the technical and safety standards required for industrial and consumer applications. 

The Porto Marghera facility is strategically located near Versalis’ other production sites in Mantua, Ferrara, and Ravenna, ensuring efficient logistics for both raw materials and finished products.

This integration strengthens the company’s product portfolio and market competitiveness in the growing segment of sustainable plastics. 

Versalis CEO Adriano Alfani highlighted the plant’s role in the company’s broader transformation strategy, “The new plant in Porto Marghera is a first step towards the conversion of Venice’s petrochemical hub, in line with the transformation and relaunch plan for Versalis, recently signed at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.

“Here, we plan to expand our mechanical plastics recycling platform and consolidate the logistics hub, including the cryogenic storage facility for ethylene.”

Commitment to circular economy and sustainable packaging

Versalis has been actively investing in circular solutions, including partnerships that enhance chemical and mechanical recycling technologies.

In June of last year, the company partnered with Crocco to develop food packaging films incorporating materials derived from chemical recycling.

The partnership enables large-scale production of food-contact-safe recycled films under the Versalis Balance product line.

This innovation ensures that recycled packaging meets stringent health and safety regulations while offering low-carbon alternatives to conventional plastics.

Alfani emphasized the company’s long-term sustainability vision, “Circularity is one of the pillars of our strategy. We are committed to developing complementary technologies in mechanical and chemical polymer recycling.

“By diversifying raw materials, we can offer the market low-carbon solutions and make sustainable resource use a reality—partly through collaborations like our innovation with Crocco.”

Crocco CEO Renato Zelcher echoed this sentiment, stating, “This new technology for producing safe and efficient recycled packaging presents exciting opportunities for the circular economy in the highly regulated food industry. We are proud to have initiated this Made in Italy supply chain with Versalis.”

Through these investments and partnerships, Versalis continues to drive innovation in sustainable plastics, supporting the global transition to a circular economy while enhancing the resilience of Italy’s chemical industry.

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