MBA Polymers is collaborating with partners in the UK, China and Austria to transform 135,000 tonnes of plastic waste into raw materials each year. Together, they give scrap vehicles, electronics and construction materials a new lease of life, diverting waste from landfill, conserving natural resources and accelerating the transition to a circular economy.
The company uses its own advanced technology to separate plastic polymers, creating high quality plastic pellets – typically requiring less than 20% of the energy needed to produce virgin plastic – for use in multiple industries.
To invest in cutting-edge recycling plants, scale up its operations and ensure a steady stream of waste to recycle, MBA Polymers works closely with EMR, Guangzhou Iron & Steel Enterprises and Müller-Guttenbrunn. Metal recycler EMR, for example, supplies MBA’s UK plant with material derived from shredded cars.
And the partnership is mutually beneficial. EMR stepped up its operations in 2014, increasing the flow of material for recycling and enabling MBA to expand its UK production capacity by 40%. Together, the partners aim to double production in 2015. Meanwhile, EMR is achieving a ground-breaking recycling rate of 99% for end-of-life vehicles, exceeding new EU regulations.
Working with Müller-Guttenbrunn, MBA Polymers unveiled Austria’s largest e-waste shredder in 2013. More recently, the partners have collaborated to develop a technology to convert a by-product of the recycling process (that was previously incinerated) into a commercially viable raw material. MBA aims to generate value from every piece of waste that enters its plants and achieve zero waste to landfill.
By continuously investing in research and development and innovating with its partners, MBA is striving to recycle more types of plastic polymers and grow its business to keep up with the rising demand for sustainable materials.
