Borealis’ New Compounding Line in Belgium Offers Premium Recyclate-Based Polyolefins

Introduction

Borealis has taken a major step in advancing the circular economy for plastics with the launch of a new compounding line in Beringen, Belgium. This line is now fully operational and dedicated to producing premium recyclate-based polyolefins (rPO)—high-quality materials that combine recyclates with virgin polymers to meet demanding performance standards. Sustainability

The milestone strengthens Borealis’ commitment to helping customers meet circularity and sustainability targets without compromising on quality or reliability. By leveraging advanced technologies and recent strategic acquisitions, Borealis is expanding its footprint in sustainable plastics.

Powered by Borcycle™ M Technology

The Beringen line is powered by Borcycle™ M technology, Borealis’ proprietary mechanical recycling process. This innovation enables the production of high-performance recycled polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) compounds with excellent consistency.

By combining post-consumer recyclates with virgin polyolefins, Borcycle™ M delivers compounds that meet the stringent standards of demanding industries such as automotive, appliances, consumer goods, and energy. Sustainability

Applications Across Industries

The recyclate-based compounds produced in Beringen are designed for demanding applications where performance, safety, and reliability cannot be compromised:

• Mobility: Lightweight, durable parts for vehicles.
• Consumer Products: High-quality, safe plastic components for everyday use.
• Appliances: Materials that can withstand heat, stress, and long-term use.
• Energy: Components used in energy infrastructure requiring strong and reliable polymers.

This versatility reflects Borealis’ ability to serve multiple sectors while reducing reliance on virgin fossil-based plastics. Sustainability

The Role of the Beringen Facility

The new line is based at Borealis’ Beringen facility in Belgium, a site designed to process a wide variety of recyclate flakes. This gives Borealis and its customers significant flexibility to adapt formulations and meet diverse market needs.

Beyond production, the facility acts as a platform for innovation, allowing customers to co-develop new compounds, test prototypes, and bring sustainable plastics into high-value applications more quickly.

Customer Collaboration and Co-Development

“This installation is more than just a technological milestone—it’s a clear commitment to our customers. By expanding access to high-quality recyclate-based materials, we’re enabling our partners to accelerate their circular transformation.” Sustainability
— Craig Arnold, EVP Polyolefins, Base Chemicals and Circular Economy Solutions, Borealis

Borealis emphasizes that this compounding line is not only about producing materials but also about collaboration. Customers can engage directly with Borealis’ technical teams, co-develop tailored solutions, and validate performance in real-world applications.

A Strategic Step for Borealis

The new line complements Borealis’ recent acquisitions of Rialti and Integra Plastics, both key players in recycling and compounding. Together, these moves underscore Borealis’ ambition to be a leading force in the transition toward a circular plastics economy. Sustainability

By scaling production capacity and integrating new technologies, Borealis is solidifying its role as a trusted partner for brands and manufacturers seeking sustainable polymer solutions.

Showcasing at K Show 2025

Borealis will showcase products made with recyclate-based polyolefins at the upcoming K Show 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Visitors can find Borealis at Hall 6, Stand A43, from 8–15 October, where samples and technical insights will be presented.

This global platform offers a chance for Borealis to demonstrate its leadership in sustainable plastics to industry stakeholders worldwide. Sustainability

Future Outlook

The commissioning of the new compounding line in Beringen is more than a capacity expansion—it represents a strategic alignment with global sustainability goals. As industries seek materials that balance performance and circularity, Borealis is well-positioned to deliver solutions that help customers reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining quality.

Looking ahead, Borealis plans to continue investing in advanced recycling technologies and strategic partnerships, ensuring that high-performance recyclate-based polyolefins become a mainstream choice across industries. Sustainability

With this milestone, Borealis reinforces its leadership in sustainable plastics—bringing circular solutions closer to scale and empowering industries to embrace a low-carbon future.

Borealis, Infinium and Fullstride Ventures Turn Waste CO₂ into Sustainable Foam for Apparel

Introduction

The apparel industry has long faced scrutiny for its carbon footprint. From raw material extraction to production, fashion accounts for a sizable share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, a breakthrough partnership between Borealis, Infinium, and Fullstride Ventures offers a bold new solution: turning waste CO₂ into high-performance foam for fashion applications. Sustainability

Their first innovation, a bra cup branded as the carboncup, demonstrates how advanced carbon capture and chemical transformation technologies can be applied directly to everyday apparel, delivering comfort and performance without the heavy environmental burden of fossil-based foams.

Background: Tackling Carbon Emissions in Fashion

Fashion contributes nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, making it one of the most polluting industries. Foam materials used in bras, footwear, and sportswear often rely on polyurethane or other fossil-derived inputs, which add significant carbon costs across their lifecycle.

Addressing this challenge requires innovation not only in design and recycling but also in the very chemistry of materials. That’s where Borealis, Infinium, and Fullstride Ventures have joined forces to push the boundaries of sustainable production. Sustainability

The Innovation: Converting CO₂ into Foam

At the heart of this development is Infinium’s proprietary technology that transforms captured CO₂ into eNaphtha, a drop-in replacement for fossil-based naphtha. This low-carbon feedstock enables the creation of polymers without extracting additional fossil fuels.

Borealis then uses the eNaphtha to produce polyethylene polymers, which serve as the building blocks for foam. Fullstride Ventures applies these polymers in apparel components, starting with the carboncup. Sustainability

Step-by-Step: From Captured Carbon to Apparel Foam

1. Capture: CO₂ is collected from the atmosphere or industrial sources, preventing it from being released into the air.
2. Conversion: Infinium’s process converts CO₂ into eNaphtha, a versatile low-carbon alternative to fossil feedstocks.
3. Polymerization: Borealis polymerizes the eNaphtha into polyethylene suitable for foam production.
4. Foam Processing: The polymer is processed into high-performance foam, compatible with existing manufacturing infrastructure.
5. Application: Fullstride uses the foam in apparel products such as bra cups, delivering comfort and sustainability simultaneously. Sustainability

This integrated value chain shows how carbon can be kept in circulation, creating useful products instead of contributing to climate change.

Fullstride’s Carboncup: The First Application

Fullstride Ventures’ carboncup bra cup is the first commercial application of this innovative foam. Designed with the same comfort, breathability, and durability as conventional foams, the carboncup also significantly lowers the carbon footprint of intimate apparel. Sustainability

“Our carboncup proves that apparel can deliver the same high-quality experience consumers expect while dramatically reducing emissions.”
— Fullstride Ventures spokesperson

This launch signals a shift in how performance apparel can embrace circular chemistry without sacrificing consumer appeal.

Environmental and Industry Impact

The environmental benefits of this collaboration are clear:

• Emission Reduction: Preventing CO₂ release by capturing and repurposing it into new materials. Sustainability
• Low-Carbon Supply Chain: Replacing fossil-based naphtha with eNaphtha reduces reliance on virgin petrochemicals.
• Circularity: Keeping carbon in circulation within industrial systems instead of the atmosphere.
• Compatibility: Foam can be manufactured and recycled in existing infrastructure, lowering barriers to adoption.

For the apparel sector, this technology offers a practical path to meeting sustainability goals while aligning with upcoming regulations on carbon intensity and consumer demand for eco-friendly products.

Future Potential and Pathways to Scale

While the carboncup is the first showcase, the potential applications for CO₂-derived foams extend far beyond lingerie. Sportswear, footwear, outerwear padding, and even furniture could all benefit from the same chemistry. Sustainability

Scaling production will require ongoing collaboration across the value chain—chemistry innovators like Infinium, polymer experts like Borealis, and consumer-facing brands like Fullstride. As volumes grow, costs are expected to decrease, making sustainable foams competitive with conventional options.

“This launch marks a significant step toward circularity in the apparel industry and shows how collaboration can unlock new ways to keep carbon in use and out of the atmosphere.”
— Joint statement from Borealis and Infinium

If successful, the model pioneered here could serve as a blueprint for decarbonizing other industries, from packaging to automotive. Sustainability

This partnership underscores how innovation and cross-industry collaboration can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy—one garment at a time.

Circulose and Jilin Chemical Partner to Scale Sustainable Viscose Filament Yarn Globally

The global textile industry is undergoing a fundamental shift as brands, suppliers, and innovators seek scalable solutions for sustainability. In this context, Circulose, a leader in textile-to-textile recycling, has announced a landmark collaboration with Jilin Chemical Fiber.

Together, they will market and sell viscose filament yarn (VFY) made with CIRCULOSE® between 2026 and 2028. This partnership is designed to accelerate the large-scale adoption of next-generation fibers, setting a strong precedent for circular textile production worldwide. Sustainability

About Circulose

Circulose has established itself as a pioneer in recycling discarded textiles into new, high-quality raw materials for the fashion industry. Its proprietary process transforms old clothes and textile waste into CIRCULOSE®—a branded recycled pulp that can be used to make new fabrics without relying on virgin resources.

With growing awareness of the environmental cost of fast fashion, Circulose is positioning itself as a key enabler of the transition to closed-loop textile systems.

About Jilin Chemical Fiber

Jilin Chemical Fiber, one of the world’s largest producers of viscose and man-made fibers, has taken on a leadership role in the global transition to circular textiles. Its portfolio includes innovative products designed to balance performance, scalability, and sustainability.

By partnering with Circulose, Jilin is not only diversifying its product range but also committing to the wider goal of decoupling fiber production from reliance on virgin forest-based feedstocks.

The Strategic Partnership

The collaboration between Circulose and Jilin has been several years in the making. Early pilot projects demonstrated both the technical feasibility and market demand for viscose filament yarn made with recycled content. Sustainability

Building on these learnings, the partnership now aims to scale production to serve global customers.

“Our partnership with Jilin is another cornerstone in Circulose’s mission to accelerate fashion’s transition to circularity. JIRECELL demonstrates both technical excellence and market readiness.”
— Jonatan Janmark, CEO, Circulose

Under the agreement, Jilin will exclusively produce and market VFY made with CIRCULOSE, ensuring consistent supply and global distribution capacity.

JIRECELL: Blending Innovation with Circularity

At the heart of this collaboration is JIRECELL, Jilin’s viscose filament yarn brand. JIRECELL is currently produced with a blend of 30% CIRCULOSE® and 70% FSC-certified wood pulp. Sustainability

Looking ahead, the ambition is to increase recycled content to at least 50%.

This balanced approach ensures that JIRECELL maintains the performance characteristics demanded by international markets, while steadily improving its environmental footprint.

Jilin’s Commitment to Circular Sourcing

Beyond product innovation, Jilin is making structural changes to its sourcing and production model. The company has committed to purchase annually increasing volumes of CIRCULOSE® pulp. Any pulp not used in JIRECELL will be blended into other fibers across Jilin’s wider portfolio. Sustainability

This strategy reflects guidance from Canopy, a non-profit organization working with the fashion sector to eliminate reliance on Ancient and Endangered Forests. By embedding CIRCULOSE at scale, Jilin is helping ensure long-term demand certainty for textile recyclers.

“With this commitment, we are proud to set a global benchmark for textile circularity. Together with Circulose, we will lead the industry toward a future where recycled fibers are the norm.”
— Jin Dong-Jie, General Manager, Jilin Chemical

Industry Impact and Market Readiness

This partnership represents a milestone in global textile supply chains. By aligning Circulose’s world-class recycling technology with Jilin’s industrial capacity, the collaboration is set to address three critical challenges:

• Scalability: Moving from pilot projects to mass production capacity.
• Affordability: Lowering the cost of recycled fibers through economies of scale.
• Adoption: Meeting the rising demand from brands committed to sustainable sourcing. Sustainability

As global regulations and consumer expectations push for transparency and sustainability, yarns like JIRECELL provide a ready-made solution for brands eager to reduce their environmental footprint.

The Future of Circular Textiles

The textile industry has reached a tipping point where innovation and scale must converge. The Circulose-Jilin partnership demonstrates what is possible when recyclers, manufacturers, and sustainability advocates work together. Sustainability

With JIRECELL poised to enter the global market, the next few years could redefine how textiles are produced and consumed. By ensuring steady demand for recycled pulp and integrating it into mainstream fiber production, this collaboration sets the stage for a future where recycled textiles are not niche products but industry standards.

This milestone marks a decisive step toward a fully circular textile economy, where waste is transformed into new value at industrial scale.

A Big Step Forward for HDPE Cleaning Thanks to AI-Based Sorting Solutions

About Eslava Plásticos

Eslava Plásticos is a family-owned company founded in 1974. Over the decades, it has become a leader in the recycling of polyolefins such as LDPE, HDPE, and PP.

The company was also among the pioneers in PS recycling, building up a processing capacity of more than 45,000 tonnes of granulate per year. This makes Eslava one of the most advanced multi-material recycling companies in Europe. Sustainability

One of its main sites, located in Quart de Poblet in Valencia, specializes in processing HDPE waste streams from industries like packaging, automotive, and agriculture. The company’s commitment to innovation has made it a reference point in the circular economy.

The Long-Term Partnership with Pellenc ST

For nearly 25 years, Eslava Plásticos has worked closely with Pellenc ST, a French company specializing in optical sorting technology. Pellenc ST supplies cutting-edge sorting machines that enable recyclers to achieve higher levels of purity in their output.

At the Quart de Poblet facility, Pellenc ST has collaborated directly with Eslava’s teams, offering privileged access to new solutions and pilot technologies. Sustainability

This relationship has allowed Eslava to stay at the forefront of plastic recycling advancements.

Challenges in HDPE Sorting

Conventional near-infrared (NIR) sorting machines are effective for many types of plastics, but some materials remain hard to separate. Certain contaminants emit similar infrared signals, making them indistinguishable with standard systems.

“We needed additional technologies to go further in our HDPE stream cleaning and improve the quality of our pellets to guarantee our customers the highest level of purity,”
— Javier Ballesteros Magadán, Plant Director, Eslava Plásticos

To overcome these challenges, Eslava turned once again to Pellenc ST for solutions.

AI Modules for Peak Performance

Pellenc ST developed artificial intelligence modules that can be added to existing machines. Sustainability

These modules combine NIR/VIS spectroscopy with deep learning, giving sorters the ability to analyze more features and process data at higher speeds.

By training neural networks on millions of images, the system learns to recognize the subtle differences in shape, size, and texture that distinguish one object from another. This breakthrough makes it possible to sort materials that were previously indistinguishable.

The CNS BRAIN™ Module

The CNS BRAIN™ is an energy-efficient AI solution designed to identify and separate silicone cartridges and nasal spray bottles from PE streams. Importantly, it requires no additional energy consumption. Sustainability

The AISORT™ Module

AISORT™ is a computer vision system that separates food packaging from non-food items. It can remove unexpected contaminants from HDPE streams, such as flip-flops and diving fins, ensuring higher purity without slowing production.

Impact and Results

The integration of AI modules has transformed the way Eslava Plásticos processes HDPE:

• Increased purity of recycled granules
• Higher throughput with no added labor costs
• Improved consistency of final products Sustainability
• Greater flexibility for handling complex waste streams

“Thanks to the artificial intelligence modules implemented by Pellenc ST, the quality of our final products has improved significantly without additional personnel costs, while increasing production throughput.”
— Javier Ballesteros Magadán

Future of AI in Recycling

The success at Quart de Poblet is a strong signal of how AI will shape the future of recycling. As the technology matures, new use cases will emerge, further advancing the circular economy. With AI-enabled sorters, recyclers can expect more efficient, flexible, and profitable operations. Sustainability

By adopting these innovations early, Eslava Plásticos reinforces its role as an industry leader and sets an example for other recyclers across Europe and beyond.

More…

Brazil Seeks New PE and PVC Suppliers Amid U.S. Anti-Dumping Duties

Introduction

Brazil is facing a pivotal moment in its polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) supply chain. Following the implementation of U.S. anti-dumping duties on polymers, the country has been actively exploring new sources to maintain steady imports and meet the growing demand of its domestic market. Sustainability

With the U.S. historically dominating Brazil’s polymer imports, the new trade restrictions are pushing the country toward alternative suppliers, most notably Egypt. However, challenges around supply capacity and long-term sustainability remain.

The Impact of U.S. Anti-Dumping Duties

In mid-2025, Brazil introduced $199 anti-dumping duties on U.S. polyethylene and raised duties on American PVC from 8.2% to 43.7%.

These measures, aimed at leveling competition and preventing unfair pricing, significantly reshaped Brazil’s import landscape. Sustainability

For Brazilian buyers, this translated into an increase of nearly $200 per metric ton in the cost of U.S. polyethylene imports. Even before the official decision, uncertainty in the market had already reduced shipment volumes.

Egypt Emerges as a Key Supplier

While the U.S. remains Brazil’s primary supplier, accounting for roughly 70% of total polyethylene imports, the shift in trade patterns is unmistakable. From January to August 2025:

• Polyethylene imports from the U.S. fell by 10%.
• Shipments from Egypt rose elevenfold. Sustainability

The reason is clear: Brazil and Egypt share a bilateral trade agreement that exempts Egyptian products from import duties. This agreement makes Egypt’s polymers more competitive in the Brazilian market.

As a result, Egyptian PVC shipments to Brazil also surged, quickly filling part of the gap left by shrinking U.S. supply.

Limitations of Egyptian Supply

Despite Egypt’s growing importance, its polymer production capacity is limited. Industry participants warn that the country cannot fully replace the scale of U.S. exports to Brazil.

“Price competitiveness is an advantage, but Egypt lacks the output needed to meet Brazil’s total demand for polyethylene and PVC,” commented a market analyst following the trade shift. Sustainability

This means Brazil will need to continue seeking additional partners and suppliers to diversify its sourcing strategy and reduce dependency on any single country.

Market Shifts and Trade Dynamics

The changes in trade flow underscore the fragility of Brazil’s polymer supply chain. With the U.S. losing market share every month, Brazil is increasingly vulnerable to disruptions and price fluctuations. Sustainability

Egypt’s rise demonstrates how bilateral trade agreements can rapidly shift market dynamics. However, as demand continues to outpace Egyptian supply, Brazil may turn toward other producers in Latin America, Asia, or the Middle East.

Petrobras’ Role in Meeting Domestic Demand

In parallel with exploring international partnerships, Brazil is also strengthening domestic capacity. State-owned Petrobras announced plans to relaunch its FAFEN-BA and FAFEN-SE nitrogen fertilizer plants in Bahia and Sergipe by the end of 2025. Sustainability

These plants, previously leased to the struggling manufacturer Unigel, will allow Petrobras to increase domestic output and reduce reliance on imports. While they are primarily fertilizer plants, the revitalization of industrial infrastructure reflects Brazil’s broader strategy to boost self-sufficiency in chemicals and polymers.

Future Outlook

Brazil’s search for new PE and PVC suppliers highlights a broader shift in global trade. As countries introduce anti-dumping measures and pursue circular economy strategies, the sourcing of raw materials becomes more dynamic and geopolitically sensitive.

In the short term, Egypt will remain a critical partner, benefiting from duty-free access. But in the medium to long term, Brazil will need to diversify further—whether by partnering with other emerging exporters, investing in regional supply chains, or expanding its own production capacity. Sustainability

For market participants, the key takeaway is that Brazil is no longer solely dependent on U.S. polymers. The country’s evolving sourcing strategy will shape pricing, supply stability, and competitive dynamics across the Latin American plastics industry.

Brazil’s pivot toward new suppliers may be just the beginning of a more diversified, resilient, and strategically balanced polymer market in Latin America.