PMMA recycling alliance showing results in Europe

Iranpolymer/Baspar  The Europe-wide recycling alliance for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is showing promising results, founding member Röhm announced in a statement.

The alliance was founded at the end of 2024 by NextChem, Röhm, acrylic and polycarbonate sheet and film maker Polyvantis, and PMMA recycler Pekutherm.

The partnership aims to boost the recycling of PMMA from end-user products and post-consumer waste and to establish a closed-loop material cycle.

PMMA, also known as acrylic glass, has excellent optical and physical properties. It is used for glazing applications in, for example, caravans, facades, furniture, and vehicle tail lights, but is also found in flat screens, neon signs, jewellery, and more. Around 300,000 tonnes of PMMA are produced in Europe alone each year of which just 10% is being collected for recycling.

One year on, the alliance is attracting ‘strong interest and growing demand across the industry’, Röhm said. PMMA recovery rates in Europe have seen a ‘significant increase’, the company added, without provident specific data.

“We’re delighted that our joint initiative has energised the market,” says Heiko Pfister, managing director of Pekutherm. “Several PMMA processors are thankful to now have access to a recycling system within Europe and are increasingly avoiding exports outside the EU.”

The alliance provides an advanced collection and sorting system for PMMA waste, along with options for mechanical recycling. Pekutherm coordinates collection logistics, while Röhm and Polyvants further process the recyclate before using it as raw material in rPMMA production. In the future, MyRemono, NextChem’s recycling subsidiary, plans to chemically recycle waste not suited for mechanical recycling. The alliance will then directly compare both recycling approaches.

Röhm has already produced material formulations containing 30% mechanically recycled PMMA for use in vehicle tail lights in Renault cars. It will showcase the prototype at this year’s K show.

The European Parliament and Council are currently negotiating legislation that could impose a 20% to 25% recycled plastic content mandate in new vehicles.

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