Recticel Insulation Launches a New Industrial-scale Recycled Polyol Plant

Recticel Insulation announced the commencement of its new industrial-scale recycled polyol plant in Wevelgem, Belgium. This facility represents a significant milestone in the company's long-term sustainability strategy and a significant stride toward circularity in the insulation sector.

The newly commissioned facility has been developed as part of Recticel Group’s broader strategy, whereby post-industrial PIR (polyisocyanurate) waste is converted into high-quality recycled polyol.

Recticel Group is the first producer of PIR to invest in a recycled polyol reactor on an industrial scale. In a closed-loop recycling process, the production trimmings and offcuts of PIR are transformed into reusable raw material for the production of new insulation boards. This methodology contributes to the reduction of waste, the reduction of reliance on virgin raw materials, and the substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby promoting more sustainable construction solutions.

“Circularity is not a slogan for us, it is a design principle,” says Ward Dhaese, Innovation Manager at Recticel Insulation. “With advanced technology we demonstrate how high-performance insulation materials can be engineered for multiple lifecycles, moving our industry away from linear production models.”

The plant is designed for continuous industrial operation and will initially recycle up to 4,000 tonnes of PIR waste annually, resulting in the production of approximately 6,000 tonnes of recycled polyol. While maintaining the same high product performance standards that customers anticipate, this scale enables the replacement of up to one-third of the virgin polyol in the PIR insulation boards with recycled content.

It is expected that the recycled polyol produced will result in approximately 40% lower carbon emissions than virgin polyol.

Source: Recticel Group