Nitrogen+Syngas 397 Sep-Oct 2025
16 September 2025
Fossil fuel free plastics project
Lummus Technology says that its Novolen® polypropylene technology has been selected for a new grassroots plant in Antwerp. The plant will be part of a complex owned by Vioneo, which will be the world’s first industrial-scale fossil-free plastics production complex. The complex, based on green methanol as feedstock, will also be highly electrified using renewable electricity and use renewable hydrogen as key components to its operations.
“Vioneo’s goal of delivering the world’s first fossil-free polypropylene plastics facility is bold, ambitious, and one we are honored to support,” said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lummus Technology. “Our proven polypropylene polymerization technology will allow Vioneo to produce high-performance, drop-in polypropylene grades through a low-emissions process without compromising quality or flexibility.”
The first-of-its-kind plant will have a capacity of 200,000 and will use segregated green propylene and ethylene as feedstock to produce a wide range of polypropylene grades. With high-purity feedstock and proven technology, polypropylene will serve as a direct drop-in replacement for fossil-based alternatives. The plastics produced will be fully traceable and CO2 negative, allowing customers to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.
“Vioneo is driving the plastics industry’s transition by proving that large-scale, cleaner production with green methanol-derived feedstocks is economically viable,” said Alex Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Vioneo. “Our collaboration with Lummus Technology… is fundamental to this vision. This world-first plant will use fully certified green propylene and ethylene from industrially proven methanol-to-olefins technology, to produce a broad range of high-quality, drop-in bio-polypropylene grades, significantly advancing a sustainable plastics economy.”
Lummus’ scope includes the technology license, process design package, support during the front-end engineering design phase and catalyst supply during ongoing operations.
