Nova Chemicals & Enerkem Announce Partnership to Develop Waste‑to‑Ethylene Recycling Catalyst

Nova Chemicals and Enerkem Inc. have signed a joint development agreement to explore converting non‑recyclable municipal waste into ethylene, a key building block for plastics.

In collaboration, the two companies will investigate advanced recycling technologies that transform hard‑to‑recycle waste—including plastics, household refuse, and construction materials—into ethylene at commercial scale. The resulting ethylene could feed a circular plastics economy and help brands meet recycled content targets in packaging.

Advanced recycling plays a pivotal role in achieving zero plastic waste by creating valuable new feedstocks from post‑use plastics that resist mechanical recycling. Both firms assert that polymers produced via these methods match the quality of those derived from 100% virgin, fossil‑based sources.

"We are excited to work with Enerkem to create innovative, sustainable solutions for a plastics circular economy," said Todd Karran, President and CEO of Nova Chemicals. "Our R&D teams will collaborate to develop game‑changing technology that pushes the boundaries of waste‑to‑feedstock innovation, delivering value to the environment, economy, and society."

Enerkem is the world’s first company to produce renewable methanol and ethanol from non‑recyclable, non‑compostable municipal solid waste at full commercial scale. Its technologies replace fossil feedstocks—such as petroleum and natural gas—in the production of sustainable transportation fuels and chemicals used in everyday products.

"We are delighted to team up with Nova Chemicals to collaborate on new technology for waste‑to‑ethylene feedstock to solve one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues," said Dominique Boies, CEO and CFO of Enerkem. "This strategic partnership will allow us to explore new products and expand our circular‑economy offering."

Nova Chemicals is committed to making 100% of plastics packaging recyclable or recoverable by 2030, and 100% of plastics packaging reused, recycled, or recovered by 2040.

Enerkem’s Alberta Biofuels plant in Edmonton marks the world’s first major collaboration between a large city and an innovative waste‑to‑biofuels producer.