Chemical recycling continues gaining momentum as major players invest in depolymerization and pyrolysis technologies.
Over the next two years, more than 30 new chemical-recycling facilities are scheduled to come online worldwide, with the largest clusters in:
- Japan and South Korea, focusing on PET and polyolefin depolymerization;
- The United States, where several large-scale pyrolysis plants are entering final commissioning phases;
- Singapore and Malaysia, which are becoming regional hubs for mixed-plastic feedstock processing.
These expansions aim to complement—not replace—mechanical recycling. The trend is expected to create hybrid value chains where high-quality recyclate and chemically derived monomers coexist to meet rising global demand for circular materials.