Selenis to Double Circular Polyester Capacity in Portugal

Selenis, global industry experts in high-performance specialty polyesters and circular polymer solutions, has announced a major expansion of its industrial headquarters in Portalegre, Portugal. The investment will double the site’s production capacity by the third quarter of 2027, accelerating the scale-up of bio-based, medical-grade, and circular co-polyesters.

The project is designed to support the transition toward a circular polymer economy while improving the facility’s energy efficiency and carbon emissions profile. By integrating advanced production technologies, Selenis is aligning its operations with increasing global demand for sustainable materials and evolving regulatory requirements.

Noted Selenis CEO, Duarte Gil, “This expansion is a bold step forward. We are doubling our capacity to meet accelerating demand while ensuring we remain fully aligned with the evolving European regulatory framework. Circularity is no longer just a concept; it is our industrial reality.”

The expansion comes as new European regulations reshape the plastics landscape. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requires all packaging in the EU market to be recyclable by 2030, with strict targets for recycled content and traceability. Updates to the Single-Use Plastics Directive now recognize advanced recycling and certified mass-balance approaches, including chemically recycled content, as valid compliance pathways.

While industry projections suggest chemical recycling capacity will expand significantly over the coming decades, Selenis is advancing ahead of these timelines. The company plans to double its recycled polyester capacity by 2027, supported by chemically recycled post-consumer resin (PCR) and ISCC+ biomass balance solutions that meet current European traceability standards.

Added Carlos Paiva, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, “This expansion is built on a foundation of measurable environmental progress. By adopting continuous polymerization, we are drastically reducing the energy intensity of every tonne we produce, while our shift towards electrification and reduced natural gas consumption fundamentally lowers our carbon footprint. When paired with our on-site solar farm, these strategic areas ensure that our growth remains firmly aligned with long-term global decarbonization objectives.”

At the center of the expansion is the implementation of a next-generation Continuous Polymerization (CP) platform alongside existing batch production technology. This combined approach improves production flexibility while enabling a more consistent and energy-efficient manufacturing process.

The new CP system is integrated with advanced vacuum technologies that reduce reliance on natural gas and increase electrification. A significant portion of this energy demand will be met through an on-site solar installation, supporting lower emissions while scaling production.

The additional capacity will serve growing demand across food, healthcare, and textile sectors. It will provide customers with increased access to circular and low-carbon polyester materials at industrial scale.

By advancing capacity expansion ahead of regulatory timelines, Selenis is positioning itself at the forefront of industrial-scale circular polymer production. The project establishes a new benchmark for integrating sustainability, energy efficiency, and production scalability within the European polyester sector.

About Selenis

Selenis is a global supplier of specialty polyester solutions serving a wide range of industrial applications. The company operates production facilities in Portugal, Italy, and the United States, with capabilities that include both batch and continuous solid-state polymerization systems to support highly technical markets.

Focused on sustainability and innovation, Selenis develops resins with up to 50% recycled content and materials designed for full recyclability within the PET stream. The company is actively advancing molecular recycling technologies that convert waste into high-performance polymer building blocks. Selenis and its sister company, Evertis, are part of the IMG Group, an international organization headquartered in Portugal with operations worldwide. To learn more, please click here.

Source/Photo Credit: Selenis

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