Canadian chemical recycler Aduro Clean Technologies has chosen Milan-headquartered project services company Saipem to provide preliminary services for developing its first industrial-scale facility.
The plant will be built at Chemelot Industrial Park in the Netherlands – described as one of Europe’s leading integrated chemical hubs – located in Sittard-Geleen near the borders with Belgium and Germany.
It will reportedly convert complex plastics waste into feedstocks that can be reintroduced into chemical and petrochemical production processes, and operate an initial capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year.
Saipem said it will provide preliminary engineering and procurement services, support the technical and economic optimisation of the initiative, and contribute to the industrialisation of Aduro’s proprietary hydrochemolytic technology (HCT).
Breaking down hydrocarbons
HCT is a chemistry-based process that operates at moderate temperatures with catalysts to break down larger hydrocarbon molecules.
In plastics applications, it is designed to convert mixed and contaminated waste, including multilayer and flexible packaging, into liquid hydrocarbons that can be upgraded for petrochemical use.
‘This phase represents a key milestone in the project’s development and may pave the way for subsequent engineering, construction, and commissioning activities,’ explained Saipem in a statement.
‘This collaboration further reinforces Saipem’s role as a partner for the industrialisation and scale-up of innovative technologies that support the circular economy and advanced plastics recycling.’
In December 2025, Aduro Clean Technologies and Mexican non-profit organisation ECOCE agreed a long-term collaboration to examine whether HCT can be used to recycle flexible and mixed plastics packaging in Mexico.
