Eni’s chemical company Versalis has launched a demonstration plant at its Mantua site, Italy, showcasing the Hoop technology for the chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste.

This proprietary technology is designed to complement mechanical recycling by converting plastic waste into feedstock for new plastic materials.

These materials are suitable for a wide range of applications, including those requiring stringent purity such as food contact and pharmaceutical packaging.

The Hoop technology, developed in collaboration with Italian engineering company Servizi di Ricerche e Sviluppo, allows for high material recovery yields and accepts a variety of input materials.

Versalis said it has combined a high thermal performance pyrolysis reactor with its expertise in polymer analysis and production process optimisation, utilising AI systems to enhance the technology.

Construction on the Hoop demonstration plant began at the end of October 2023.

Spanning roughly 5,000m², the facility can process 6,000 tonnes (t) of secondary raw material annually and aims to validate the technology for industrial-scale application.

Following a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), a larger 40,000t facility is planned at the company's Priolo site in Sicily.

The feasibility study for this project is complete, and the design phase is underway, with the permitting process expected to begin soon.

Versalis CEO Adriano Alfani said: “Today we are giving further substance and value to circularity, one of the pillars of Versalis’ transformation plan.

“The Hoop plant we are opening today is a symbol of the path we are following - harnessing innovation to reshape our business through new industrial initiatives based on circularity, biochemistry and specialisation, in pursuit of increased sustainability. We are committed to addressing all three of sustainability core dimensions: environmental, social and economic.”

The SC-HOOP project, which refers to the Hoop technology demonstration plant in Mantua, is the only large-scale Italian project to receive funding from the 2023 EU Innovation Fund call.

The fund, established by the European Commission, supports low-carbon technologies.

Additionally, the MIMIT has chosen to feature the patent in the 'L’Italia dei Brevetti' exhibition in Rome and at the Italian Pavilion during Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.