FEATURE
Variety – Process engineer Jessica Gregson says working at the forefront of plastics recycling is‘ incredibly dynamic’, with no two days the same.
households will need to separate flexible plastics, and local authorities will need a solution, so technologies like ours are very well timed,” says Kim Walker, Mura Technology’ s marketing manager.
“ Rather than replacing existing systems, Mura’ s process complements them. Plastics that can be processed via traditional mechanical recycling should be – but for those multi-layered, residual materials, Mura offers a solution.”
The environmental case for Mura Wilton is compelling. The facility reduces carbon emissions by 80 % compared to incineration – equivalent to 40,000 tonnes of CO 2 saved annually at this first site alone.“ As we electrify our plants and adopt renewable energy, those numbers will only improve,” says Kim.
And it’ s not just about carbon. Mura’ s process helps stop plastic from leaking into the natural world.
“ We’ re keeping valuable materials in use and out of the environment,” Kim adds.“ That’ s the whole point of a circular economy – protecting the planet while making smarter use of resources.”
There’ s also mounting commercial pressure. The UK Plastic Packaging Tax requires all plastic packaging to include at least 30 % recycled content, but suitable
World first – members of the Mura Wilton team representing both Mura Technology and px Group, from left: Brian Passman, Jessica Gregson, Stephen Maddison, Richard Usher, Fred Parnell, David Black and Lewis Winspear.
recycled material is in short supply.
“ That’ s where our technology comes in,” explains Kim.“ We can provide the recycled, circular hydrocarbons for use in new plastics that brands are looking for.”
Located at Wilton International, Mura Wilton is just the beginning – new plants are already in planning in Europe and Asia, with additional sites near completion under license from Mura by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in Japan and LG Chem in South Korea.
But this isn’ t just about scaling a technology. It’ s about changing the way we think about plastic altogether.
“ We often hear negative comments about plastic,” says Kim.“ But it’ s not the material that’ s the issue- it’ s the mismanagement of waste and lack of viable solutions to recycle a broader scope of plastics.
“ If we can recycle it sustainably, then plastic has a valuable role to play in our future, and by licensing our technology, we are enabling others to build similar plants around the world, turning a local innovation into a global solution.
“ All eyes are on us, and rightly so.”
Mura Wilton will be operated and maintained by px Group.
Meet the process engineer helping turn the tide on plastic waste
Among the many bright minds behind Mura Wilton’ s pioneering plastic recycling facility is process engineer Jessica Gregson. Starting her career in the pharmaceutical sector, Jessica soon realised she was craving a more purpose-driven role.
“ I wanted to do something that really challenged me and contributed to solving a real-world issue,” she explains.
That desire to make a difference led her to retrain as a process engineer, joining Mura soon after her graduation in 2020.
“ Sustainability has always been important to me, and Mura was the perfect opportunity to be part of a company developing new, green technology from the ground up,” she says.
Jessica spent the first 18 months in design work, followed by handson commissioning of the world’ s first hydrothermal advanced recycling plant. One of the biggest challenges? The plastic feedstock.
“ Post-consumer waste is hugely inconsistent,” she explains.“ Sometimes it’ s wetter than expected or contains more non-plastic material. That affects how the front-end systems behave and how reliably they clean, sort and process the material.”
As the site transitions to full operation, Jessica is helping fine-tune the systems to ensure they run reliably around the clock.
“ We’ ve run test batches and have seen our first products go off-site for analysis, which is hugely exciting,” she says.
For Jessica, being part of a global-first project in her home region is more than just a job.
“ This isn’ t just about building a plant, it’ s about changing how the world deals with plastic waste,” she says.“ And we’ re doing that right here on Teesside.”
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