K 2025: Vioneo presents methanol-based fossil-free plastic
Key takeaways
- Vioneo debuts at K 2025 with its MTO technology for producing fossil-free PP and PE.
- A commercial-scale plant in Antwerp produces plastics that avoid 6 kg CO2 emissions per 1 kg produced.
- Alternative pathways fill the demand gap, as recycling is projected to cover only 50% of global plastic needs by 2050.
Vioneo, a company using methanol to produce “fossil-free” PP and PE, will for the first time attend the K 2025 trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, on October 8–15. The company is the first to commercialize green-methanol-to-olefins (MTO) alternative production pathways to deliver fossil-free virgin plastics.
“For years, I heard the argument that fossil-free polymer production can’t scale, but we show it can,” says Katja Wodjereck, CCO at Vioneo.
“Converters and brand owners can expect the same processing efficiency and product performance they rely on today, while seamlessly integrating fossil-free plastics into their existing manufacturing operations. It’s a game-changer for sectors looking to reduce emissions without disruption.”
The company points out that the current recycling and reuse strategies are projected to meet only around 50% of global plastics demand by 2050, according to the most ambitious scenarios. “To meet the remaining demand sustainably, Europe must accelerate alternative production pathways.”
Vioneo says that its plant, based in Antwerp, Belgium, is commercially prepared to deliver its plastic alternative at scale. For every 1 kg of Vioneo methanol-based plastic produced, an estimated 6 kg of CO2 emissions are avoided.
At the K 2025 show floor
K 2025 is an international trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry, with the theme of “The power of plastics” this year. Vioneo says that harnessing “innovative chemistry and renewable feedstock” shows that plastic can be derived in an environmentally sustainable process.
At the trade show, visitors can speak to Vioneo’s team of commercial and technical experts who will provide overviews of the technology and offer tailored applications for a range of products.
At K 2025, ExxonMobil will spotlight its product samples and film rolls, including its monomaterial PE solutions designed for recyclability, solutions incorporating post-consumer recycled content, and the Exxtend technology for advanced recycling.
TotalEnergies and SML will showcase their new films for stand-up pouch and deep-freeze bag applications.
