OMV and Interzero celebrate groundbreaking ceremony for Europe’s largest sorting plant for plastic waste for chemical recycling

Walldürn/Vienna/Berlin. Just 20 days after announcing their joint venture, OMV, the integrated company for energy, fuels and feedstock, chemicals and materials headquartered in Vienna, and Interzero*, Europe’s leading provider of circular solutions, today celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for their innovative sorting plant for plastic waste for chemical recycling in Walldürn, Baden-Württemberg. 

Guests included representatives from state and regional politics as well as the project partners. Everyone at the event emphasized the positive effects of the project, both for the location itself and for Europe, with its creation of 120 new jobs, establishment of a new recycling technology, and OMV’s investment volume of over EUR 170 mn. Chemical recycling is a technology of the future which, alongside conventional mechanical recycling, can significantly increase the proportion of reused plastics and save valuable raw materials from being incinerated. 

“Establishing the most modern and largest post-sorting plant for packaging waste in the whole of Europe in Walldürn boosts the location and is also a strong commitment to confirming Baden-Württemberg as a center of business and innovation. The plant is an important building block on the way to a circular economy that saves resources, reduces dependency on raw materials, and protects our climate while ensuring that jobs and value creation are thriving in rural areas”, said Peter Hauk, the Baden-Württemberg Minister for Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection.  

Daniela Vlad, Member of the Executive Board of OMV AG und Executive Vice President Chemicals & Materials: “I would like to thank our joint venture partner Interzero, our technical project partners, and in particular the dedicated supporters here on site who are working with us to make this forward-looking project possible. The new sorting plant here, the expansion of the ReOil® technology developed and patented by OMV, and the associated expansion of our ReOil® capacities are all further milestones in OMV’s transformation. They highlight how we are ‘Re-inventing essentials for sustainable living’. With this new plant, we will reshape the landscape of our industry, will stimulate the creation of new markets, and will redefine OMV’s future as we transform to become an integrated sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials company.”. 

Axel Schweitzer, Chairman and owner of Interzero: “This project marks the beginning of a new era in plastics recycling. Together with our strong partner OMV, we are using our innovative recycling process to give plastics that are currently incinerated a second life through chemical recycling. I am convinced that with the aid of chemical recycling, the recycling rate in Germany can and will increase significantly in the future. This brings us another big step closer to our vision of a world without waste. Many thanks to the teams on both sides who have made this possible, and also for the support here in the town, district and country - which already has a good tradition thanks to our existing plant. With the new plant, we are jointly developing Walldürn and the Neckar-Odenwald district into a leading location for the recycling industry in Europe.” 

Achim Brötel, County Commissioner of the Neckar-Odenwald district: “For me, the establishment of the new plant is a project close to my heart. Because if we all want a genuine circular economy in order to be able to live well in the future, we must proactively promote innovative projects like this. I am delighted that two such strong companies as OMV and Interzero are investing here in our district and that the construction work is now starting after a very successful preparation period”. 

Meikel Dörr, Mayor of Walldürn: “Welcome OMV, welcome Interzero, welcome to Walldürn. As a representative of the local authorities, I would like to thank you for the trust you have placed in us and for having proven to be such a reliable partner during the preparations for the new construction – especially with regard to protecting the surrounding area in the best possible way with appropriate concepts. As a city, we respect and value this and look forward to continuing our constructive cooperation”. 

*Operates as ALBA Recycling at the sorting sites

About OMV Aktiengesellschaft

At OMV, we are re-inventing essentials for sustainable living. OMV is transitioning to become a leading sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials company with a focus on circular economy solutions, while operating today across three integrated business segments of Energy, Fuels & Feedstock, and Chemicals & Materials. By gradually switching over to low-carbon businesses, OMV is striving to achieve net zero by latest 2050. The company achieved revenues of EUR 62 billion in 2022 and has a diverse and talented workforce of around 22,300 employees worldwide. OMV shares are traded on the Vienna Stock Exchange (OMV) and as American Depository Receipts (OMVKY) in the U.S. Further information at www.omv.com.

Source: OMV

Photo: Frank Seifert/Interzero