- European portfolio of PS, ABS, and SAN available with chemically recycled styrene monomer, using mass balance principle
- Lower CO2 equivalent footprint as compared to fossil fuel counterparts
- Drop-in solution: physically and functionally equivalent to fossil-based alternatives, materials can be used with existing tooling and equipment under the same processing conditions
Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a specialty material solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics and latex binders, announced today it has started receiving chemically recycled styrene monomer (rSM) through depolymerization, from the newly operational recycling plant built by the Company’s partner, Indaver. The plant is located in Antwerp, Belgium. It began production in August 2025 and uses polystyrene household packaging waste to recover the styrene monomer (SM).
Trinseo’s portfolio of STYRON™ Polystyrene resins, MAGNUM™ ABS resins, and TYRIL™ SAN resins can be manufactured with chemically recycled SM1 produced according to the mass balance principle. This means they are drop-in equivalents of their fossil-based counterparts, including for food contact applications.
For the STYRON™ polystyrene resins, the use of household packaging waste for depolymerization recycling means a step closer towards circularity. For example, a yogurt cup, with the right collection and processing infrastructure in place, could be recycled back into a similar dairy container. Along with food containers, the resins are suitable for refrigerator liners and parts, as well as food trays made of expanded polystyrene. MAGNUM™ resins are suitable for household items such as toys or furniture, as well as automotive interior & exterior parts, while TYRIL™ SAN resins can be used for personal care goods or appliance water tanks.
“We are thrilled to announce that we have started to receive recycled styrene monomer from our partners, Indaver, and integrate their recycled styrene monomer into our products,” said Ivan Angelov, Vice President Polymer Solutions. “This collaboration aligns with our commitment to sustainability and allows Trinseo to provide customers with even more sustainably advantaged2 solutions.”
The PS, ABS and SAN made with rSM complement Trinseo’s broader portfolio of bio, dissolution, and other sustainably advantaged materials. Trinseo has established a tool that provides cradle-to gate Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) information for different grades, allowing the company to share with interested parties specific information about the products’ CO2 footprint.
