Mura Tech partners with WMG to improve sustainability of plastic recycling

WMG will develop operational sustainability models for Mura’s Hydro-PRT advanced plastic recycling technology. It hopes this will identify opportunities for further improvements to the environmental performance of the process.  

Previously, Mura identified an annual carbon emissions saving of 40,000 tonnes at what is said to be the first Hydro-PRT site in Wilton, Teesside. 

The collaboration is part of the IUK-funded two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). 

The Warwick University-based WMG modelling platform will operate at all future Mura project sites and will include Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to demonstrate transparently how Hydro-PRT meets environmental requirements.  

The platform will be used to educate and inform stakeholders including global regulators, policy makers and the plastics value chain on the low carbon potential of Hydro-PRT. 

Simon Broome, innovation manager at WMG at the University of Warwick who co-wrote the application for the project, said: “I was blown away by the potential of this project to transform the process for recycling contaminated waste plastic.  

“The team are highly committed and have already demonstrated impressive growth on their journey to make real sustainability gains in this important material sector.” 

Mura Technology and Hydro-PRT 

Mura Technology is a recycler of waste plastics, producing fossil-equivalent recycled hydrocarbon feedstocks from post-use, mixed, multi-layered flexible and rigid plastics for the petrochemicals industry to create virgin-grade plastics, such as for use in food packaging. 

Its patented processing technology ‘Hydro-PRT’ produces hydrocarbon feedstocks which it says have “sector-leading sustainability attributes”.  

The company’s first commercial scale plant at Wilton is due to commence operations by the end of this year. It will become the world’s largest advanced recycling plant, with two further plants being built under licence with partners in South Korea and Japan. 

Mura’s head of sustainability and R&D, Dr Geoff Brighty, said: “Continuing the collaboration with WMG is critically important to bring this new science into our core business operation.  

“Hydro-PRT has sector leading sustainability credentials, but every prospective site will be unique, influenced by the local energy grid, plant configurations as well as its material supply chain. The KTP project models will inform options appraisals and decision making, ensuring sustainability is at the heart of our global growth programme.”