ORLEN Unipetrol Group has launched operational testing at its chemical plant in Litvínov to incorporate pyrolysis oil produced from recycled plastics (so-called ISCC Plus-certified pyrolysis feedstock) into the steam cracker production process. The aim of the operational test is to verify the feasibility of using this pyrolysis oil as an alternative feedstock in the production of basic petrochemical products and to gain practical, technical, and operational experience. The testing builds on the Group’s long-term research and analytical activities in the field of processing feedstocks derived from plastic waste and represents a further step toward the gradual integration of circular economy principles into existing production processes.
“An integral part of the transformation of our petrochemical industry is the gradual integration of recycled waste materials into the production of new products, ensuring that the entire process is efficient and safe, and that the final product is fully comparable in quality to those produced by traditional methods. By applying circular economy principles, we contribute to more efficient use of fossil resources and support the transition to more sustainable management of plastic waste,” says Zbigniew Pawłucki, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of ORLEN Unipetrol Group.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group has successfully completed the first industrial campaign for processing raw material derived from plastic waste directly at its production site. This test demonstrates that alternative raw materials can be integrated into large-scale petrochemical operations, thereby actively supporting efforts to address the issue of plastic waste.
“Testing of feedstock acquired from plastic waste at the steam cracker in Litvínov is a practical verification of how new feedstock types can be safely and effectively used in the existing technology units. The acquired data and experience are a key prerequisite for the subsequent development in this area and for gradually increasing the role of circular raw materials in our production portfolio,” says Martin Růžička, Head of the Decarbonisation Division at the ORLEN Unipetrol Group.
The raw material is produced through plastic waste pyrolysis, yielding a liquid fraction with properties similar to traditional crude oil-based feedstocks. The steam cracker processes this raw material (pyrolysis oil) together with standard feedstocks. This process results in circular products, which may be further used to produce polymers with the same properties and quality as plastics made from fossil sources and are classified as circular in line with ISCC Plus requirements.
The entire process complies with ISCC PLUS certification, which the ORLEN Unipetrol Group successfully defended for the fourth time, most recently in the autumn of 2025. When processing ISCC Plus-certified pyrolysis oil, the mass balance approach was applied, enabling the transparent and demonstrable monitoring of the proportion of circular raw material throughout the production process, in accordance with the ISCC Plus certification system.
This technological approach offers a solution for plastic waste that is now difficult to recycle by other means and shows that the petrochemical industry can play a significant role in transitioning to more sustainable plastic management. Customers using polymers are thus given the option to take specific steps towards sustainability without compromising the quality of the materials.
Plastic waste recycling aimed at producing new plastic materials is also beneficial for material safety. Plastic waste is a locally available resource less affected by geopolitical factors or international market fluctuations.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, particularly plastics and fertilizers. It is a major player in all these areas on the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, research center in Brno and the engineering design company ORLEN Projekt. ORLEN Unipetrol also owns the ORLEN network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs over 3,300 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. A testament to the high quality of employee care is the prestigious international Top Employer certification, which the Group received in 2023, 2024 and 2025, along with several national awards. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl,
spokesperson, telephone: +420 736 502 520, e-mail: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz