By 2050, the Netherlands must be a circular economy: products are no longer landfilled or incinerated, but all materials are reused. Many plastics, such as polyester (PET), are now mainly mechanically recycled, with the quality of the material declining and it is only suitable for low-grade applications. CuRe Technology has developed a form of chemical recycling, in which PET is chemically broken down into smaller debris (oligomers) that is immediately repolymerized. The quality of the plastic is maintained and the material can be used in high-quality applications, such as in food packaging. The technological feasibility of this technique has been demonstrated in a pilot setup that can process 20 kg/h polyester waste in a continuous operation. CuRe Technology now aims to realize the most energy-efficient polyester recycling technology on an industrial production scale in Emmen through the pilot setup of more than 100 ...