ReNew ELP is at the forefront of a new, cutting-edge technology that can convert end-of-life plastic waste into refined synthetic hydrocarbon products, including low carbon synthetic crude oil, and valuable chemicals and waxes.

Globally 311 million tonnes of plastics are produced per year, but only 5% is currently recycled. In the UK, over 2.5 million tonnes of plastics goes to landfill every year. Sorting plastics to enable them to be recycled is both challenging and expensive, but ReNew patented technology enables this material to be processed into high value oils and chemicals, recovering scarce resources.

Using a unique, patented hydrothermal upgrading platform, the Cat-HTR (Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor), ReNew ELP will shortly commence construction of the world’s first commercial scale plant at its recently acquired site in Teesside, North East England. The plant will use an innovative chemical process to convert end-of-life plastic waste into sustainable oils and chemicals, contributing to the establishment of a Circular Economy. Their approach will demonstrate that a low-carbon, low-waste society can be achieved with the right focus, technology and investment. 
ReNew ELP’s product is sustainable, stable, low sulphur and non-corrosive and can be blended within a conventional refinery to produce recycled oils and chemicals. The product can also be fractionated to produce valuable biochemicals, solvents, waxes and other petrochemical products.

ReNew ELP has an ambitious program of development in the UK. Their first site in Teesside has a potential total processing capacity of 80,000 tonnes per annum. The company is looking at other potential sites around the UK and is also offering to license the technology to waste producers and waste processing companies. The longer-term goal for ReNew ELP is to channel further investment into emerging technologies to support the creation of renewable and sustainable energy and useful chemical products.

ReNew ELP has been selected by The Sustainable Packaging Coalition and The Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners among five entrepreneurs and startups that are capable of successfully recovering multi-material flexible packaging waste for new uses.