NEA and Shell to jointly explore new chemical recycling value chain to turn plastic waste into chemicals

The National Environment Agency (NEA) and Shell are jointly studying the feasibility of chemically recycling plastic waste in Singapore.

The study will look into waste segregation facilities and plastic pyrolysis plants to recycle Singapore’s plastic waste. Pyrolysis is a chemical process to convert plastic waste into higher-value products such as pyrolysis oil, which can be upgraded as feedstock to manufacture plastics and chemicals.

“Chemical recycling will enable the recycling of contaminated plastics that are recovered from our general waste. This feasibility study is part of NEA’s efforts to develop our local plastic recycling capabilities, improve our plastic recycling rates and enhance the resilience of our overall waste management infrastructure. The joint study with Shell will help NEA gain a better understanding of the technical and commercial aspects of a chemical recycling value chain in Singapore, and bring us one step closer to realising our goal of a circular economy for plastics,” said Mr Tan Meng Dui, Chief Executive Officer of NEA.

Packaging, including plastics, is one of NEA’s three priority waste streams for closing the resource loop and working towards our vision of a Zero Waste Nation. In Singapore’s domestic waste stream, plastics make up more than half of the packaging waste disposed of. In addition to diverting plastics from incineration, chemical recycling will help reduce carbon emissions, close the plastic waste loop, and create new jobs and capabilities as part of a more circular approach towards resource management in the longer term. The joint study with Shell will complement NEA’s consultancy study on the feasibility of developing a pilot Plastic Recovery Facility (PRF) in Singapore, which will be awarded by end 2020 and run parallel to the feasibility study between NEA and Shell.

“As part of Shell’s energy transition ambition, we aspire to transform our business here to become more sustainable and circular. That is why we are committed to work with NEA and other partners in the ecosystem to develop a new circular supply chain to support both Singapore’s and Shell’s chemical recycling ambitions,” said Aw Kah Peng, Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore.

In 2019, Shell announced its ambition to use one million tonnes of plastic waste a year as feedstock in its global Chemicals plants - across Asia, Europe and North America, by 2025. Since Nov 2019, the Shell Norco facility in Louisiana, USA, has started using pyrolysis oil from plastic waste as feedstock.

For Shell enquiries, please contact:

Ca-Mie De Souza
General Manager, External Relations
Ca-Mie.DeSouza@shell.com

For NEA enquiries, please contact:

Siti Annazia Hamsani (Ms)
Corporate Communications
National Environment Agency
Tel: 9844 6309
Email: Siti_Annazia_HAMSANI@nea.gov.sg

Elly Saad (Ms)
Corporate Communications
National Environment Agency
Tel: 9066 4418
Email: elynur_saad@nea.gov.sg

Cautionary Note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this press release “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as “joint ventures” and “joint operations”, respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as “associates”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

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