Versalis and Acea Ambiente Forge Strategic Alliance to Accelerate Advanced Plastic Recycling in Italy

Italian chemical firm Versalis, a subsidiary of Eni, has entered into a strategic partnership with Acea Ambiente, the environmental division of utility group Acea, to strengthen Italy’s circular economy through advanced plastic recycling initiatives, according to an official announcement. 

The agreement, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, and Gabriele Di Cintio, CEO of Acea Ambiente, outlines a roadmap for jointly evaluating and developing recycling streams for both post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste.

As reported on Versalis’ official website, the collaboration will focus on assessing waste flows originating from Acea Ambiente’s processing facilities to determine their compatibility with Versalis’ mechanical and chemical recycling technologies. The partnership also aims to establish an integrated, industrial-scale supply chain capable of producing high-quality recycled polymers, with potential investments in new infrastructure and process optimization.

Particularly notable is the joint exploration of chemical recycling technologies, including Versalis’ proprietary Hoop® process, which targets plastic waste types that are unsuitable for traditional mechanical recycling methods.

In a statement, Versalis CEO Adriano Alfani emphasized the importance of the agreement, citing recent progress in the company’s recycling infrastructure. “This agreement reinforces our commitment to building a circular economy for plastics by combining our industrial and technological expertise with that of a strategic partner like Acea Ambiente,” he said. “we launched a new plant for the production of plastics from mechanically recycled raw materials, with a production capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes per year of crystal polystyrene (r-GPPS) and expandable polystyrene (r-EPS). In Mantua, the Hoop® chemical recycling demonstration plant for mixed plastic waste has been operational for a month; the industrial-scale version (40,000 tonnes/year) will be built in Priolo as part of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Eni-Versalis Chemical Transformation Plan.”

Acea Ambiente CEO Gabriele Di Cintio highlighted the strategic significance of the collaboration, noting, “Acea Ambiente has long-standing commitment to developing innovative and sustainable solutions. This agreement is a strategic step towards an integrated industrial model that recovers value from plastic waste, making a tangible contribution to the country’s circular economy while strengthening our role in the ecological transition and the progressive decarbonisation of industrial processes.”

According to industry observers, the move reflects growing momentum in Europe to scale up circular solutions amid mounting pressure to reduce emissions and divert plastics from landfills. The joint initiative also aligns with broader EU goals under the European Green Deal, which calls for substantial improvements in waste recovery and recycling infrastructure across member states.

Source: Gruppo Acea