TotalEnergies has bought Plastic Energy's 35% stake in the Grandpuits chemical recycling plant near Paris, becoming sole owner. The facility processes up to 15,000 tonnes a year of hard-to-recycle plastic waste. No deal value was disclosed.
Why this mattersFull ownership gives TotalEnergies direct control of a chemical-recycling feedstock source as recycled-content mandates under PPWR increase demand for such material.
- TotalEnergies acquired Plastic Energy's 35% stake in the Grandpuits facility
- The plant is located outside Paris, France
- Annual processing capacity is 15,000 tonnes of difficult-to-recycle plastic waste
- TotalEnergies now holds 100% of the plant
- Deal value was not disclosed
The EU-funded ReBioCycle project has shown that PLA bioplastic can be recovered from mixed plastic waste using existing industrial sorting technology, broken down into lactic acid by Torwash's hydrolysis system, and re-polymerised by TotalEnergies Corbion into recycled PLA with properties comparable to virgin resin. The demonstration ran at industrial scale rather than in the laboratory, and the consortium plans further scale-up and new applications. Funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking, the wider project also covers PHA and composite bioplastics.
Why this mattersA viable PLA recovery route through existing sorting infrastructure could ease compliance with EU recyclability targets without requiring separate bioplastics collection systems.
- PLA was extracted from mixed plastic waste using sorting technology already in industrial use
- Torwash's hydrolysis system broke the recovered PLA into lactic acid
- TotalEnergies Corbion re-polymerised the lactic acid into recycled PLA said to match virgin-grade PLA properties
- The demonstration was run at industrial scale, not only in laboratory conditions
- The project is funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking and also covers PHA and composite bioplastics
- The EU's PPWR targets all packaging to be recyclable by 2030
TotalEnergies Corbion has introduced Luminy Foam 50F, a polylactic acid grade engineered for extrusion foaming, positioned as a drop-in replacement for extruded polystyrene (XPS) in food trays. The product targets markets where single-use polystyrene food service packaging is being phased out under bans in 12 US states, Canada, India and the EU. Luminy Foam 50F is available now with FDA and Korean food contact approval.
Why this mattersA processable bio-based foam alternative could accelerate the replacement of polystyrene food trays as regulatory bans on PS foodware widen across the US, EU and Canada.
- Luminy Foam 50F is a PLA grade engineered for extrusion foaming, matching XPS processing rates without reactive modification.
- Single-use polystyrene food service ware is banned in 12 US states, Canada, India and the EU.
- Maine's exemption for raw protein trays expires in 2027 and British Columbia's expires in 2030.
- The company has achieved foam densities of 100 g/L versus around 60 g/L typical for XPS meat trays, with further reductions expected.
- A life-cycle assessment showed a 70% cradle-to-gate carbon footprint reduction versus polystyrene, attributed to biogenic feedstock.
- Luminy Foam 50F has FDA and Korean Food Contact approval and is available now.
Plastic Energy has transferred its stake in the TotalEnergies Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling (TEPEAR) facility in Grandpuits, France, giving TotalEnergies full ownership. The plant will keep operating at industrial scale using Plastic Energy's proprietary TAC pyrolysis technology, with the divestment forming part of Plastic Energy's restructuring under returning CEO Carlos Monreal to focus on its Spanish plants and partnerships.
Why this mattersConsolidation of chemical recycling assets under oil majors signals technology licensors retreating from capital-heavy plant ownership toward asset-light licensing models.
- Plastic Energy transferred its stake in the TEPEAR facility in Grandpuits, France, to TotalEnergies.
- TotalEnergies now holds full ownership of TEPEAR.
- The plant continues to use Plastic Energy's proprietary TAC chemical recycling technology.
- Carlos Monreal, Plastic Energy founder, has returned as CEO and is leading a restructuring around core operations.
- Plastic Energy will continue operating chemical recycling plants in Almeria and Seville, Spain.
- Plastic Energy produced its first batch of pyrolysis oil, Tacoil, last year at a joint venture facility with Sabic.
