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Austria-based polyolefin producers Borealis is one resin producer that is stepping up its activities in recycling. The company made its initial entry into the space with the acquisition of German plastics recycling companies mtm plastics GmbH and its sister company mtm compact GmbH just two years ago, and has since made significant investments in upgrading and boosting production at both facilities. Their focus is on rigid, injection molding markets.

Now, the company has signed an agreement to acquire Ecoplast Kunststoffrecycling GmbH of Wildon, Austria. The company annually processes around 35,000 m.t. (77,161,792 lb) of post-consumer plastic waste from households and industrial consumers, turning it into high-quality LDPE and HDPE recyclates, primarily but not exclusively for the plastic film market. The company recycles flexibles from highly-contaminated post-consumer waste and the resultant recyclate is said to be suitable for thin-film production.

Borealis Chief Executive Alfred Stern noted that this acquisition is a logical step for expanding the company’s mechanical recycling capabilities—key to Borealis’ sustainability and circular economy efforts. “Borealis wants to be a provider for circular economy plastic solutions and we see Ecoplast as an important complement to mtm in Germany.”