The Braunschweig-based company matterr, which operated under the name RITTEC Umwelttechnik until 2024, is planning to build an industrial plant for recycling polyester (PET) in North Rhine-Westphalia. From 2027, 10,000 tons of PET-containing waste per year will be processed in an environmentally friendly manner. The investment will be in the double-digit million euro range. NRW.Global Business is supporting the company's relocation to Hürth.
Matterr, which specializes in recycling polyester from packaging and textiles, relies on a sustainable chemical recycling process that breaks down PET almost completely at atmospheric pressure, at relatively low temperatures and without the addition of solvents. The plant will supply virgin-quality recycled raw material to companies in the packaging and textile industries. With the new production capacity, matterr is creating an economical alternative to the petrochemical production of polyester. The process makes it possible to recycle plastics that were previously considered difficult or impossible to recycle. In addition, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 70 percent compared to mechanical recycling processes.
As matterr CEO Melanie Hackler emphasizes, NRW is further establishing itself as a central location in Germany for innovative recycling technologies: "The decision to locate in Germany was a conscious one. Our technology is groundbreaking for the production of PET from non-fossil sources for the packaging and textile markets worldwide."