Versalis: Hoop® demo plant for chemical recycling of plastics to start at Mantua

Versalis, the chemical subsidiary of Eni, has inaugurated a new demonstration plant at its Mantua site, showcasing its proprietary Hoop® technology for the chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste.

Designed to complement traditional mechanical recycling, Hoop® enables the conversion of mixed plastic waste into high-quality feedstock for the production of new plastics—even for demanding applications such as food-grade and pharmaceutical packaging.

Developed in partnership with Italian engineering firm S.R.S. (Servizi di Ricerche e Sviluppo), Hoop® is an innovative process that delivers high recovery yields and is adaptable to a wide range of input materials. This flexibility is made possible through the use of a high-performance pyrolysis reactor, combined with Versalis’s deep expertise in polymer chemistry and AI-driven production process optimisation.

Construction of the Mantua demonstration facility began in late October 2023, covering an area of around 5,000 square metres. During the construction phase, over 25 specialist contractors were involved, with a daily workforce averaging 70 people. Initial production tests have already been successfully completed.

The facility is capable of processing up to 6,000 tonnes of secondary raw materials annually and will serve to validate the scalability of Hoop® technology for industrial deployment. Under the Eni-Versalis Chemical Transformation Plan—formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding with Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT)—a full-scale 40,000-tonne plant is planned at the Priolo site in Sicily. The feasibility study is complete, and the design phase is underway, with permitting soon to follow.

“This new plant gives tangible value to circularity, one of the pillars of our transformation strategy,” said Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis. “The launch of the Hoop® plant marks a critical step in our journey to reshape the chemical industry through innovation focused on circularity, biotechnology, and specialisation—all key to driving environmental, social, and economic sustainability.”

Known internally as SC-HOOP, the Mantua demonstration project was the only Italian large-scale initiative selected for funding under the 2023 EU Innovation Fund call. Out of 239 proposals submitted, just 41 were chosen. The project also received recognition from the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, with the Hoop® patent featured in the national innovation showcase L’Italia dei Brevetti in Rome (Nov 2024–Mar 2025) and selected for display in the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.