Recycling company matterr is establishing operations at Chemiepark Knapsack and will construct a small-scale industrial depolymerisation plant in the Hürth section of the site with an annual capacity of around 10,000 tonnes. The facility marks an important step toward a fossil-free, circular PET industry and represents another milestone in the transformation of Chemiepark Knapsack toward circularity. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2026.

Innovative recycling technology for polyester waste

matterr’s patented depolymerisation process converts complex, mixed PET waste streams — including blended textiles and multi-layer packaging — back into their original molecular building blocks under mild conditions at atmospheric pressure. After purification, these components can be used in existing polyester production facilities to produce virgin-quality products, fully replacing fossil-based feedstocks. For its Knapsack operation, matterr will leverage the site’s integrated infrastructure.

“The Chemiepark Knapsack is an ideal location for us: its clear focus on promoting the circular economy fits our approach perfectly. Together with YNCORIS, we are laying the foundations for a future-proof, circular PET industry independent of fossil feedstocks. At the same time, we want to demonstrate that our solution is economically viable and can set new standards for sustainable supply chains across sectors", says Melanie Hackler, CEO matterr.

Progress for circular industry and manufacturing

By scaling up, matterr aims to prove that fossil-free circular solutions work at industrial scale and can set a new benchmark for sustainable supply chains across industries. Benjamin Rump, COO of matterr, explains the main challenge remains delivering an efficient, scalable recycling process: “That is precisely what we have developed at matterr. With the new industrial plant we will demonstrate that our depolymerisation process works at commercial scale — reliably and with high process stability. We benefit from YNCORIS’s experience in plant construction and integration; that partnership is a crucial factor in moving from pilot to industrial implementation.”

Transformation continues

Chemiepark Knapsack has been advancing its shift toward the circular economy for several years. matterr is the third recycling-focused company on site. “Our aim has always been to attract process plants to Chemiepark Knapsack that preserve material cycles and strengthen local circularity,” says Ralf Müller, Chair of YNCORIS’s Executive Board, which operates the park. “With its expertise and advanced solution, matterr is an excellent fit for the site.”

Last year, LyondellBasell secured a large plot in the new Hürth-South area to build an integrated recycling and downstream processing centre for plastic waste. Since April 2021, Palurec is successfully recycling beverage cartons at a facility in the park. In addition, the waste-to-energy plant, in operation since 2009, generates steam from non-recyclable residues — steam that is an important part of the site’s energy supply.

For Christoph Kappenhagen of YNCORIS’s management team, matterr exemplifies industrial sustainability: “This new investment shows that a traditional industrial location can keep evolving. We want to offer people long-term prospects here, and that requires technological innovation and close cooperation among companies at the Chemiepark Knapsack.”