What Borealis does

Borealis is a Vienna-headquartered, global provider of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and base chemicals, founded in 1994 and historically majority-owned by OMV (75%) with ADNOC holding 25%. The firm manufactures polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) resins, compounds, and recyclates, plus olefinic base chemicals (ethylene, propylene, phenol, acetone) at integrated petrochemical complexes in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Bulgaria, and serves customers in over 120 countries. Its products are sold into six primary verticals — Energy (wire and cable), Consumer Products, Mobility/Automotive, Healthcare, Infrastructure (pipes), and Solutions for Polymers — typically under long-cycle, qualification-heavy B2B contracts with utilities, OEMs, and converters. As of March 31, 2026, Borealis was combined with Borouge and NOVA Chemicals to form Borouge Group International AG, a 50-50 joint venture between OMV and ADNOC's XRG, making the combined entity the world's fourth-largest polyolefins producer with 13.6 million tonnes per annum of capacity.

Borealis's core technology stack rests on a portfolio of proprietary, trademarked process and catalyst platforms: Borstar (bimodal PE/PP), Borstar Nextension (next-generation single-site PP), Borlink (power transmission cable), Borceed (plastomers/elastomers), Borcycle (mechanical and chemical recycling), and the Sirius catalyst family. These are protected by a deep patent estate — Borealis ranked first in Austria in the European Patent Index 2024 — and underpin differentiated grades such as Bormed (medical), BorSafe and BorECO (pipes), Daplen and Fibremod (automotive), and Bornewables/Borvida/Borcycle/Recleo (circular and bio-based portfolios). Manufacturing includes the company's own catalyst plant in Linz and dedicated compounding sites in Monza, Taino, Cheonan and Houston.

The business model is predominantly direct B2B enterprise sales, with industry-specialized sales managers and technical experts, regional sales and customer service offices, and a self-service B2B portal (MyBorealis). Revenue is generated through one-time sales of polymers and base chemicals, complemented by technology licensing of Borstar and related platforms to third-party polyolefin producers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Sustainability and circularity are positioned as core commercial differentiators, evidenced by EcoVadis Gold (top 5%, 81 points), ISO 14001 coverage, RecyClass certifications across recycling subsidiaries, and the Project STOP initiative for marine plastic waste management in Southeast Asia.

Name

Borealis

Legal name

Borealis GmbH

Website

https://borealisgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Borealis is a Vienna-based global manufacturer of advanced and circular polyolefins (PE and PP) and base chemicals, serving the energy, automotive, healthcare, infrastructure, and consumer products industries via proprietary catalyst and process technologies and direct B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Polyolefins and Base Chemicals

NAICS

Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing (32615)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Polyolefins (PE, PP) (IMAEANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Base Olefins (Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene) (IMAEADAA), Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMAEAOAA), Polypropylene (PP) Foam Manufacturing (IMANAIAF)

Keywords

• Polyolefin manufacturing
• Base chemicals production
• Polyethylene polypropylene supply
• Circular polymer recycling
• Polymer compound materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Polyolefins Sales: Sale of advanced polyethylene and polypropylene materials including virgin polymers, recycled polymers, and specialty compounds for diverse industrial applications
2. Base Chemicals: Production and sale of base chemicals including ethylene, propylene, phenol, and acetone as fundamental raw materials for manufacturing plastics, chemicals, and solvents
3. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary technologies including Borstar, Borlink, Borceed, and Borcycle to third parties for polyolefin production and recycling
4. Circular Economy Solutions: Sale of recycled and bio-based polyolefin solutions including Borcycle, Bornewables, and Borvida product lines supporting customer sustainability objectives

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Borealis manufactures and sells advanced polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) and base chemicals (ethylene, propylene, phenol, acetone) used as raw materials across multiple industries. The company also licenses proprietary polymerization and recycling technologies and offers circular economy solutions including mechanically and chemically recycled polyolefins and renewable-based polymer grades.

Product overview

Borealis is a global leader in advanced and circular polyolefin solutions, providing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials alongside base chemicals. The company operates across two core business segments: Polyolefins serving industries including Consumer Products (packaging, appliances, hygiene fibers), Mobility (automotive interiors, exteriors, e-powertrain), Healthcare (medical devices, pharmaceutical packaging), Energy (wire & cable, solar), Infrastructure (pipes, fittings), and Solutions for Polymers (plastomers, elastomers, foam). The Base Chemicals segment produces ethylene, propylene, phenol, and acetone. Borealis's circular economy portfolio includes Borcycle M (mechanical recycling), Borcycle C (chemical recycling), Recleo (recycled polyolefins), Bornewables (renewable-based polyolefins), and Borvida (circular base chemicals). Key proprietary technologies include Borstar Technology, Borlink Technology, Borceed Technology, and Borstar Nextension Technology. The company also co-founded Project STOP for waste management in Southeast Asia. Borealis has combined with Borouge and NOVA Chemicals to form Borouge International as of March 31, 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Borcycle™: Technology for recycling polyolefin waste into new plastics through mechanical and chemical recycling processes
• Bornewables™
• Borvida™
• Recleo™
• Borstar®
• Borlink™
• Bormed™
• Queo™

Products and services

• Polyolefins (Polyethylene and Polypropylene) Core product category covering polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials serving packaging, automotive, healthcare, infrastructure, energy, and consumer products industries.
• Base Chemicals Fundamental raw materials including ethylene, propylene, phenol, and acetone used in manufacturing plastics, chemicals, and solvents across various industries.
• Borlink Cable Compounds Polyolefin compounds for wire and cable applications including extra-high, high, and medium-voltage power transmission, low-voltage energy transmission, communications, flame retardant solutions, and capacitor films, enabling uninterrupted power transmission and long-term reliability.
• Bormed Healthcare Polyolefins Medical-grade polyethylene and polypropylene for healthcare and pharmaceutical packaging applications, including blow-fill-seal packaging, blisters, pharmaceutical bottles, caps and closures, medical devices, and diagnostic devices, backed by regulatory support.
• Daplen Automotive Compounds Polypropylene compounds for injection molding applications in automotive interior, exterior, and e-powertrain components (dashboard carriers, door panels, bumpers, battery applications, HVACs).
• BorSafe Pipe Materials Durable polyethylene and polypropylene pipe materials for long service life in drinking water, gas, sewage, drainage, cable protection, and industrial pipeline applications.
• Borcycle M Mechanical Recycling Mechanical recycling portfolio delivering premium quality recycled polymers through industry-leading process technology for high-performance and sensitive applications.
• Borcycle C Chemical Recycling Chemical recycling technology that valorizes residual plastic waste streams not suitable for mechanical recycling, enabling production of virgin-like drop-in recycled plastics for demanding applications.
• Bornewables Renewable Polyolefins Premium polyolefin products manufactured with renewable/bio-based feedstocks offering a lower carbon footprint alternative to virgin polyolefins.
• Borvida Circular Base Chemicals Portfolio of circular base chemicals manufactured with sustainable raw materials, drastically reducing the environmental footprint of end products.
• Recleo Recycled Polyolefins Reliable global portfolio of PIR (post-industrial recycled) and PCR (post-consumer recycled) recyclates and compounds for fit-for-purpose solutions where sustainability is the focus.
• Queo Plastomers and Elastomers High-performance plastomers and elastomers combining the physical properties of rubber with the processing advantages of thermoplastics, for applications including automotive components, adhesives, and highly filled compounds.
• MyBorealis Customer Portal Digital platform providing polyolefins customers with order management, complete resource library access, real-time order status information, grade consultation, and support documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% renewable electricity target reached by end of 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LanxessminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Borouge International and Lanxess continuing to advance sustainability in acetone value chains through collaborative initiatives.
• WooshminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Demonstrating circular pathway for diaper plastics together with BlueAlp, showcasing closed-loop recycling for challenging waste streams.
• FSG ReturnablesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Launched reusable polypropylene cup system across NHS hospitals, enabling staff and visitors to borrow, return, and reuse cups via café network. Reduces landfill waste and EPR compliance costs.
• ADNOCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Formation of Borouge International through combination of Borouge and Borealis plus acquisition of NOVA Chemicals, creating world's fourth-largest polyolefins producer with 13.6 million tonnes capacity.
• OMVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Joint control (50-50) of Borouge International with ADNOC's XRG. OMV injecting capital and combining Borealis operations for global polyolefins leadership.
• ClariantcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Completed pilot project with Clariant and SINTEF demonstrating pyrolysis oil upgrading technology converting plastic-derived pyrolysis oil into cracker-grade feedstock meeting steam cracker specifications.
• SINTEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Research partner in Norway for pilot-scale testing of pyrolysis oil upgrading technology achieving full conversion of contaminants and complete saturation of dienes.
• Pelita Mekar SemestaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Indonesian partner for feasibility study on integrated waste management and polyolefin recycling system in Indonesia, funded by Subnational Climate Fund Technical Assistance.
• Reciki Solusi IndonesiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Indonesian partner for circular economy ecosystem study establishing system to convert plastic waste into high-quality recycled polyolefins.
• BlueAlpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Strategic partnership where Borealis transferred majority stake in Renasci chemical recycling plant to BlueAlp while acquiring 10% stake in BlueAlp. Accelerates technology innovation and circular feedstock production for EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation compliance.
• Project ELECTRO ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025EU-funded project developing electrified thermochemical recycling technologies to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into high-value olefins targeting up to 90% GHG emission reduction.
• Emirates FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 202515-year partnership renewed in 2025 with AED 1 million contribution from Borealis Social Fund supporting education, social inclusion, and sustainability efforts in UAE.
• Clean RiverscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Scale-up partner for Project STOP, helping to expand circular waste management systems in Indonesia. Together surpassing 100,000 metric tons of waste collected in 2025.
• SystemiqcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-founded Project STOP in 2017 with Systemiq to design, implement and scale circular economy solutions to marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia. Project STOP has collected over 100,000 tons of waste and provided access to waste collection for over 850,000 people across Indonesia.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• LyondellBasell Industries: LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest polyolefins producers (PE, PP) with proprietary technologies, integrated cracker assets, and a strong circular economy platform (Circulen). It competes head-to-head with Borealis in European polyolefins, automotive compounds, and advanced polymer recycling.
• SABIC: SABIC is a global petrochemicals and polyolefins leader headquartered in Saudi Arabia, producing PE and PP from advantaged feedstocks. It directly competes with Borealis in European and global polyolefins and is a fellow participant in circular economy initiatives (TRUCIRCLE portfolio).
• INEOS Group: INEOS is a major privately held European petrochemicals and polyolefins producer with integrated cracker operations and PE/PP product lines. It competes directly with Borealis in European base chemicals and polyolefin markets, particularly in packaging and infrastructure applications.
• Braskem: Braskem is the largest petrochemical company in the Americas and a global polyolefins producer (PE, PP) with a bio-based polyethylene (I'm green) offering that competes directly with Borealis's Bornewables bio-based polyolefins and circular polyolefin portfolio.
• NOVA Chemicals Corporation: NOVA Chemicals is a North American polyolefins producer (PE, PP) now combined with Borealis and Borouge into Borouge International. It competes directly with Borealis in PE/PP markets and brings complementary assets in ethylene and PE production.
• Formosa Plastics Corporation: Formosa Plastics is a global polyolefins and PVC producer with integrated cracker-to-PE/PP operations. It is a direct peer to Borealis in commodity polyolefin supply and a competitor in global PE/PP markets across packaging, infrastructure, and consumer products.

Broad incumbents

• ExxonMobil Chemical: ExxonMobil is a global integrated energy and chemicals major with significant polyolefins production, competing with Borealis in commodity and specialty grades. Its scale, feedstock integration, and technology resources make it a broad incumbent in the same industry space.
• TotalEnergies Petrochemicals: TotalEnergies operates an integrated petrochemicals and polyolefins (PE, PP) business alongside its energy operations, competing with Borealis in European and global polymer markets. It is a broad incumbent with significant cracker and polyolefin assets in Europe and the Middle East.

Others

• Dow Inc. Dow is a global materials science major with substantial polyolefins (PE) and packaging-related polymer production. It is a broad incumbent competitor in commodity polyolefins, packaging materials, and circular plastics initiatives overlapping with Borealis's portfolio.

Emerging players

• Reliance Industries Limited: Reliance Industries is one of the largest integrated polyolefins and petrochemicals producers globally and is scaling its circular and specialty polymer portfolio. It is an emerging player competing with Borealis in Asian and global polyolefins markets, particularly in packaging and consumer applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/borealisgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borealis

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Borealis