Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, and Acea Ambiente, a subsidiary of Acea operating in integrated waste management and energy recovery sectors, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, and Gabriele Di Cintio, CEO of Acea Ambiente.

The agreement marks the beginning of a collaboration focused on advancing the circular economy through joint recycling initiatives that recover value from post-consumer and post-industrial plastics.The two companies will work together to analyse and select waste flows from Acea Ambiente’s facilities, with a view to assessing their suitability for Versalis’ recycling processes. The shared objective is to develop an integrated industrial supply chain, capable of producing high-quality recycled plastics, also via potential investments in new plants and the optimisation of existing processes.

The agreement furthermore foresees the joint assessment of chemical recycling solutions, including the Hoop® technology, to recover value from plastic waste that cannot be recycled mechanically.

Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, said: “This agreement reinforces our commitment to building a circular economy for plastics by combining our industrial and technological expertise with that of a strategic partner like Acea Ambiente. Last March in Porto Marghera, we launched a new plant for the production of plastics from mechanically recycled raw materials, with a production capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes per year of crystal polystyrene (r-GPPS) and expandable polystyrene (r-EPS). In Mantua, the Hoop® chemical recycling demonstration plant for mixed plastic waste has been operational for a month; the industrial-scale version (40,000 tonnes/year) will be built in Priolo as part of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Eni-Versalis Chemical Transformation Plan. Our aim is to build more sustainable, scalable supply chains that add value to plastic waste and support the transition towards a low-emissions future.”

Gabriele Di Cintio, CEO of Acea Ambiente, said: “Acea Ambiente has long-standing committment to developing innovative and sustainable solutions. This agreement is a strategic step towards an integrated industrial model that recovers value from plastic waste, making a tangible contribution to the country’s circular economy while strengthening our role in the ecological transition and the progressive decarbonisation of industrial processes. The partnership with Versalis combines our expertise in waste processing and the management of complex plants with the know-how of a leading player in the chemical industry. Acea Ambiente operates a consolidated network of sorting platforms and facilities dedicated to plastic recovery and recycling, an essential resource for building efficient and traceable supply chains. Our goal is to recover value even from the most difficult plastics, producing high-quality secondary raw materials and reducing overall environmental impact.”