Plastic Energy
Plastic Energy is a London-based chemical recycling company that converts end-of-life plastics into TACOIL recycled feedstock using patented TAC pyrolysis technology. It licenses its technology and operates joint ventures with major petrochemical partners including SABIC, TotalEnergies, and SK Geo Centric.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Plastic Energy does
Plastic Energy is a London-headquartered chemical recycling technology company founded in 2011/2012 that has developed and commercialized a patented Thermal Anaerobic Conversion (TAC) pyrolysis process. The TAC process heats end-of-life plastics in the absence of oxygen to produce hydrocarbon vapours, which are condensed into TACOIL, a recycled feedstock that replaces fossil oils in petrochemical production of virgin-quality plastics. The company operates its own commercial recycling plants in Almeria (since 2016) and Seville (since 2017), Spain, with 5,000 tonnes/year capacity at Seville. It has extended its footprint through joint ventures — SPEAR (50-50 with SABIC) in Geleen, Netherlands, with 20,000 tonnes/year capacity, and TEPEAR (40% with TotalEnergies at Grandpuits, France) with 15,000 tonnes/year capacity, both of which reached mechanical completion or commercial operation in 2025-2026. The company also licenses TAC technology globally, with the largest licensed facility being the 66,000 tonnes/year Ulsan ARC cluster in South Korea with SK Geo Centric, and has signed MOUs for additional facilities in China, Japan, and Malaysia.
The company monetizes through three revenue streams: technology licensing with royalties, direct TACOIL sales to petrochemical partners, and operational/professional services for licensed plants. Its customer base spans Tier-1 petrochemical companies (SABIC, TotalEnergies, SK Geo Centric, PETRONAS Chemicals) and major FMCG brands using TACOIL-derived packaging (Unilever's Magnum tubs, Mondelez Philadelphia, Kraft Heinz Beanz snap pots, Tesco soft plastic packaging, L'OCCITANE tubes). The technology has accumulated regulatory credentials including the first REACH registration and end-of-waste status for a pyrolysis oil, RSB certification (first end-of-life plastics chemical recycler), ISCC PLUS, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001. Augmenting the core technology are digital products — ACS (proprietary automation control system) and TAConnect (digital twin, predictive maintenance, advanced process control, AI-driven operator support).
In 2021 the company completed a €145 million funding round with Axens, LetterOne, and M&G Investments. In 2024 founder Carlos Monreal transitioned to Chairman and Ian Temperton was appointed CEO. A critical risk signal: the Plastic Energy website footer identifies "Plastic Energy Limited (in administration)," indicating formal UK insolvency proceedings despite continued operational announcements through March 2026.
Plastic Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plastic Energy
- Legal name
- Plastic Energy Limited
- Website
- https://plasticenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Plastic Energy is a London-based chemical recycling company that converts end-of-life plastics into TACOIL recycled feedstock using patented TAC pyrolysis technology. It licenses its technology and operates joint ventures with major petrochemical partners including SABIC, TotalEnergies, and SK Geo Centric.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plastic Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plastic Recycling Technology
- NAICS
- Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemical/Advanced Recycling (Pyrolysis, Depolymerization, Solvolysis, Gasification) (EUAIAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM), Plastic-to-Fuel/Oil & Feedstock Upgrading (Naphtha/Cracker Feed) (EUAIAKAL), Recycled Plastic Compounds (PCR/PIR) (IMANABAE)
Keywords
Where Plastic Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
Plastic Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Plastic Energy licenses its TAC technology to petrochemical partners globally. Licensing package includes end-to-end support: feasibility assessment, commercial and technical assessment, feedstock analysis, technology (Axens Rewind Mix), operational training, maintenance support. Revenue from licensing fees and ongoing royalties from partner plants.
- TACOIL Sales: Sale of TACOIL recycled oil produced from Plastic Energy's operational plants and joint ventures. TACOIL is sold to petrochemical partners (TotalEnergies, SABIC) as feedstock replacement for virgin plastics in food-contact packaging and medical-grade materials.
- Operational Services: Technical services, training, feedstock support, and maintenance services for licensed plants worldwide. Includes access to continuous operational improvement and equipment lifecycle support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Technology licensing package with end-to-end support |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Plastic Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plastic Energy operates a patented chemical recycling technology (TAC - Thermal Anaerobic Conversion) that converts end-of-life plastics into TACOIL™, a recycled oil feedstock used to replace fossil oils in petrochemical production of new plastics. The company licenses its TAC technology to petrochemical partners globally while also operating its own recycling plants in Spain and participating in joint ventures (SPEAR with SABIC, TEPEAR with TotalEnergies, Ulsan ARC with SK Geo Centric). Revenue is generated through technology licensing fees/royalties, direct TACOIL sales, and ongoing operational services including technical training, feedstock assessment, and plant maintenance support.
Product overview
Plastic Energy is a technology company offering a unified platform of chemical recycling solutions for plastics. At its core is the patented TAC™ (Thermal Anaerobic Conversion) technology which converts end-of-life plastics into TACOIL™, a recycled feedstock used by petrochemical partners to produce new virgin-quality plastics. The company provides this technology through licensing packages with end-to-end support (feasibility, operations, training), augmented by digital services including the ACS (Advanced Control System) for plant automation and TAConnect for monitoring, analytics, and operator training. Plastic Energy operates its own commercial plants in Spain and participates in joint ventures (SPEAR with SABIC, TEPEAR with TotalEnergies) while licensing its technology globally. The company also offers specialized products including TACFILLER for rubber recycling and low-carbon carbon black alternatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TACOIL: Recycled oil feedstock produced through Plastic Energy's patented TAC process, used by petrochemical partners to manufacture new plastics
Products and services
- TAC™ (Thermal Anaerobic Conversion) Technology Patented thermal chemical recycling process that converts end-of-life plastics into hydrocarbon vapours by heating plastics in the absence of oxygen. The vapours are condensed into TACOIL, a recycled oil feedstock that replaces fossil oils in petrochemical production. Licensed to petrochemical partners globally for integration into new or existing polymer production facilities.
- TACOIL™ Recycled oil feedstock produced from the TAC process. Sold to petrochemical companies (SABIC, TotalEnergies) as a feedstock replacement for virgin fossil oils in the manufacture of new plastics, including food-contact packaging and medical-grade materials. First pyrolysis oil to achieve REACH registration and end-of-waste status.
- Technology Licensing Package Complete commercial licensing packages of Plastic Energy's recycling technology including end-to-end business and operational support: feasibility assessment, commercial and technical assessment, feedstock assessment (from lab analysis to industrial trial), Axens Rewind Mix technology integration, technical services and training, operational support, feedstock support, and maintenance and equipment lifecycle regime support. Multi-year contracts sold to enterprise petrochemical partners.
- ACS (Advanced Control System) Proprietary automation control system designed in-house by Plastic Energy engineers with over a decade of hands-on operational experience. Built specifically for TAC plants and optimized for reliable, efficient, and high-quality plant operations with minimum 90% availability.
- TAConnect Digital Intelligence Suite Digital ecosystem for TAC Plants including 24/7 plant monitoring with digital twin, real-time KPIs, predictive maintenance alerts, advanced process control with machine learning models, operator training simulator, and quality data dashboard with full traceability. Includes AI-driven chatbot and access to expert knowledge base with 100+ years of collective operational experience.
- TACFILLER Low-carbon alternative to carbon black for rubber applications, produced through Plastic Energy's chemical recycling process. Converts rubber waste into circular filler materials for the rubber industry.
- Cybersecurity Services Industrial automation cybersecurity solutions for TAC plant operators built on IEC 62443 and NIST Cybersecurity Framework standards. Delivers robust and resilient automation solutions aligned with clients' operational and safety objectives.
- TEPEAR Advanced Recycling Plant Joint venture with TotalEnergies (60%/40%) at Grandpuits, France. Uses Plastic Energy's TAC technology to convert 15,000 tonnes per year of hard-to-recycle plastics into TACOIL for food-contact packaging and medical-grade materials production.
- SPEAR Advanced Recycling Plant Joint venture with SABIC (50-50) at Geleen, Netherlands. Processes 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year into TACOIL for production of certified circular polymers used in food-contact packaging.
Quantifiable outcome
- TACOIL reduces CO2 equivalent emissions by up to 78% compared to incineration
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Plastic Energy
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Plastic Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature6 records
Plastic Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, minor and major.
- TotalEnergiescoreJoint venture TEPEAR at Grandpuits, France (60% TotalEnergies, 40% Plastic Energy) with 15,000 tonnes/year capacity. TotalEnergies also purchasing TACOIL from Plastic Energy's Spanish plants since 2020. Plant now operational producing food-contact and medical-grade recycled plastics.
- CiteosupportingLong-term plastic waste supply partner for TEPEAR plant in France alongside Paprec.
- PaprecsupportingLong-term plastic waste supply partner for TEPEAR plant in France alongside Citeo.
- SK Geo CentriccoreLicense contract and MOU for Ulsan Advanced Recycling Cluster (ARC) in South Korea with 66,000 tonnes/year capacity - largest in Asia. Construction began 2023, targeting completion 2025. Agreement to form JVs for additional facilities in China, Japan, and Seoul metropolitan area.
- Ellen MacArthur FoundationsupportingSignatory to New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Converting low-value plastic waste into feedstock for new plastic manufacturing supporting circular economy.
- Loughborough UniversitysupportingDecade of collaboration leading to R&D labs opening at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP) in November 2022. Houses pilot plant for feedstock testing and TACOIL quality optimization.
- AxenscoreLicensing partnership to provide fully circular solution for end-of-life plastic waste using Axens Rewind Mix technology combined with Plastic Energy's TAC process. Adaptable to local requirements.
- SABICcoreJoint venture SPEAR (50-50) in Geleen, Netherlands with 20,000 tonnes/year capacity. Produces certified circular polymers from TACOIL for food-contact packaging. Plant reached mechanical completion end of 2024, now in commissioning. SABIC also longtime TACOIL offtaker.
- Closed Loop PartnersminorMember of Advanced Recycling Innovator Program (ARIP) as part of Advancing Circular Systems for Plastics Initiative. Collaboration with network of industry and non-profit stakeholders.
- ViridorminorMOU for UK circular economy collaboration. Feasibility work to develop plant returning up to 30,000 tonnes/year of unrecycled plastic to economy. Plant would co-locate with Viridor's energy recovery facility.
- Haldor TopsoesupportingProviding license and basic engineering for novel hydrotreating solution as part of SABIC's TRUCIRCLE initiative at Geleen site.
- RenewisupportingBuilding dedicated formulation line to supply feedstock from mixed plastic waste for pyrolysis process at SABIC Geleen site.
- PETRONAS Chemicals Group (PCG)majorMOU signed 2019 for feasibility study to establish facility converting plastic waste to TACOIL in Malaysia. If successful, would be first petrochemical company in Southeast Asia to invest in chemical recycling. Partnership enables PCG to use TACOIL at Pengerang Integrated Complex.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Plastic Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mura Technology: UK-based chemical recycling company using hydrothermal Cat-HTR process to convert mixed plastics into feedstock for new plastic production. Direct competitor in advanced recycling of end-of-life plastics serving the same petrochemical and FMCG customer base, with similar licensing and JV partnership model.
- Agilyx (now part of ExxonMobil): Norway/US-based pyrolysis technology company specializing in converting mixed waste plastics into crude oil products. Acquired by ExxonMobil in 2021. Direct competitor offering competing pyrolysis technology to petrochemical partners, overlapping with Plastic Energy's TAC process and TACOIL offtake model.
- Brightmark: US-based advanced recycling company using pyrolysis to convert mixed waste plastics into fuels and feedstocks. Direct peer operating similar pyrolysis-based plastic-to-feedstock technology and competing for the same advanced-recycling offtake and licensing deals in the US and global markets.
- Quantafuel (Sulzer Chemtech): Norway-based chemical recycling company using thermal depolymerization to convert mixed plastics into naphtha-grade products, now operating under Sulzer Chemtech. Direct peer in the advanced-recycling feedstock production space targeting petrochemical offtakers similar to TACOIL's customer base.
- OMV (ReOil): Austrian energy and chemicals major operating ReOil pyrolysis technology that converts mixed plastics into synthetic crude for re-refining into plastics. Direct peer with pyrolysis technology comparable to TAC, targeting the same petrochemical offtake market in Europe.
Broad incumbents
- Eastman Chemical: US specialty chemicals major with its Polyester Renewal Technology (PRT) — methanolysis-based advanced recycling producing food-contact-grade recycled polymers. Competes head-on with TACOIL for the same brand-owner food-contact applications, but as part of a broader chemicals portfolio rather than a specialized pyrolysis player.
- BASF: Global chemicals giant operating the ChemCycling program which uses pyrolysis oil (from third parties and pilot projects) to produce certified circular polymers. Competes with Plastic Energy as both a potential partner (as an offtaker) and a competitor (piloting in-house advanced-recycling solutions).
- Neste: Finnish renewable fuels leader expanding into chemical recycling of plastics via its Neste MY renewable feedstock platform. Operates at larger scale than Plastic Energy with established petrochemical partnerships and competing for the same brand-owner recycled-content demand.
- SABIC: Saudi petrochemical major that is both Plastic Energy's JV partner (50/50 SPEAR) and a potential competitor through its TRUCIRCLE portfolio of certified circular polymers. Comparable because SABIC both sources TACOIL feedstock and operates competing advanced-recycling initiatives, including methanolysis and other routes to recycled polymers.
- LyondellBasell: Global petrochemical major operating Circulen suite of recycled and renewable-based polymers, including chemically recycled grades from third-party pyrolysis oil. Comparable because it is both a potential customer of TACOIL and a competitor developing in-house advanced-recycling solutions to serve the same brand-owner demand.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Plastic Energy social profiles
Digital presencePlastic Energy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Plastic Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plastic Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Plastic Energy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Plastic Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plastic Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Plastic Energy
What does Plastic Energy do?
Plastic Energy operates a patented chemical recycling technology (TAC - Thermal Anaerobic Conversion) that converts end-of-life plastics into TACOIL™, a recycled oil feedstock used to replace fossil oils in petrochemical production of new plastics. The company licenses its TAC technology to petrochemical partners globally while also operating its own recycling plants in Spain and participating in joint ventures (SPEAR with SABIC, TEPEAR with TotalEnergies, Ulsan ARC with SK Geo Centric). Revenue is generated through technology licensing fees/royalties, direct TACOIL sales, and ongoing operational services including technical training, feedstock assessment, and plant maintenance support.
Is Plastic Energy a public or private company?
Plastic Energy is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Plastic Energy founded?
Plastic Energy was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Plastic Energy based?
Plastic Energy is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Plastic Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are TACOIL Sales and operational Services.
Who are Plastic Energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mura Technology, Agilyx (now part of ExxonMobil), Brightmark, Quantafuel (Sulzer Chemtech) and OMV (ReOil). Broad incumbents are Eastman Chemical, BASF, Neste, SABIC and LyondellBasell.
Does Plastic Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plastic Energy.
What industry is Plastic Energy in?
Plastic Energy's product category is Plastic Recycling Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAKAC, Chemical/Advanced Recycling (Pyrolysis, Depolymerization, Solvolysis, Gasification), with a secondary code of EUAIAKAM, Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion). Its NAICS code is 32521 and its SIC code is 2821.