Thailand’s SCG Chemicals plans to expand the capacity of its Portugal-based subsidiary Sirplaste by 25 per cent in response to strong demand for recycled plastics in Europe.
The recycling firm has an existing annual capacity of 36,000 tonnes for post-consumer recycled resins, of which 9,000 tonnes is recycled high-density polyethylene. It sells its recycled plastics in Europe.
SCG Chemicals recently completed acquisition of a 70 per cent stake in Sirplaste, which is based in Porto de Mós.
The planned expansion will go hand in hand with upgrading to high-quality recycled production capacity to cater to a growing market in line with SCG Chemicals’ environmental goals, according to its parent firm, Thai conglomerate Siam Cement Group.
SCG Chemicals is looking at growing its environment-friendly or green polymer portfolio to 1 million tonnes by 2030 and decarbonise current operations by 20 per cent by 2030 from 2021 levels, with the goal of going carbon neutral by 2050.
The company has built Thailand’s first advanced recycling demonstration plant, and is “targeting the creation of green feedstock and food-grade resins,” SCG said.