Specializing in plastics, chemicals and refining, American multinational LyondellBasell, Lyb, announces that it has finalized the acquisition of Merseburg, Germany-based APK.
"We are delighted to finalize the acquisition of APK, a company specializing in solvent-based recycling technologies. This operation secures the future of more than a hundred employees and provides us with a new solution to meet our customers' ambitions and objectives in terms of circularity, says Yvonne van der Laan, Lyb's Executive Vice President for Circular and Low-Carbon Solutions. This technology complements our excellent mechanical recycling technology, as well as our proprietary advanced recycling technology. We see it as a key addition to our portfolio as we move towards a circular economy, which will help put an end to plastic waste."
Following the laying of the foundation stone for its first MoReTec advanced catalytic recycling plant in Wesseling, Germany, on September 19, the acquisition of APK is another step towards meeting the growing demand for more sustainable solutions.
PBK's recycling technology is a solvent-based technology for low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Lyb aims to accelerate the recycling of hard-to-recycle soft plastic waste, which today makes up the bulk of mixed plastic waste from the consumer sector. The materials produced will be marketed under Lyb's Circulen range.
In March 2023, Lyb unveiled its new corporate strategy aimed at committing to sustainable development. The company has drawn up ambitious plans to create access to best-in-class innovative and differentiated technologies as a key element of its new strategy, and has formed a dedicated Circular and Low Carbon Solutions (CLCS) business. CLCS has begun to make substantial upstream investments in plastic waste sorting and recycling operations in Europe, the USA and Asia.
