BP announced to build a $25 million pilot plant in the US using its innovative technology called ‘Infinia’. The plant is set for operation at the end of 2020.
Several companies are working on recycling, and there are already various recycling technologies operating around the world. What differentiates Infinia from other existing technologies?
Ed Mills
BP claims that its Infinia technology is particularly designed for recycling ‘opaque and difficult-to-recycle (known as ODR) PET plastic waste’ into feedstock. These types of recyclable materials (black food trays and coloured bottles) lose its quality each time after its recycling by using conventional methods and eventually go to landfills.
Infinia technology is going to recycle ODR into feedstock which can be utilised to produce new high-quality PET plastic packaging without any effect on quality. This would reduce the downcycling ratio as well as divert plastic waste from landfill and incineration.
BP is also joined by other companies and formed a consortium to speed up the commercialisation of BP’s Infinia recycling technology. Companies include Britvic, Danone, Unilever, Alpla and Remondis.
Commodity Economics
Raw materials cost is quite essential for any packaging company. It would be interesting to see what would be the production cost of the feedstock per tonne by using Infinia technology.
Indeed, BP should have some benchmark data and run all the simulations from the collection point to the final feedstock. Hoping it would not be a publicity stunt.