Chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling, encompasses a group of technologies that break down the molecules in waste to produce raw materials. This process enables the conversion of difficult-to-recycle plastics, such as multi-layered or contaminated materials, back into "virgin-like" feedstocks that can be used to create new chemicals or plastics. Unlike mechanical recycling, which typically reprocesses plastics without changing their chemical composition, chemical recycling uses techniques like pyrolysis, gasification, and depolymerization to break down polymers into their basic components. The chemical recycling sector has some mature technologies (such as the dominant pyrolysis and gasification), alongside numerous others still in laboratory development, primarily driven by start-ups and small companies. The industry has set ambitious targets, and significant progress will be necessary to achieve them.

In this analysis, Frost & Sullivan examines the input capacity for 2024 and offers forecasts for 2031 across various technologies and regions. The report highlights several companies to watch and provides qualitative insights into the current state of chemical recycling for various materials, including tires, textiles, water treatment sludge, plastics, used cooking oils, and more. The study period spans from 2024 to 2031, with 2024 as the base year and the forecast period from 2025 to 2031.

Author: Leonardo Sampieri