Röhm moves ahead with PMMA chemical recycling plant in Germany. March 31, 2026 10:59 AM EDT PMMA producer Röhm announced it is moving ahead with plans to invest in a 5,000 tonnes/year PMMA depolymerisation plant at its production site in Worms, South-Western Germany. In this week's Material Insights, Frank Esposito reports that polystyrene is joining PVC and several engineering thermoplastics all moving higher to start 2026. He links the increases to seasonal construction demand, inventory building and higher feedstock costs, while noting a pricing turnaround for nylon after earlier weakness tied to automotive demand. Staying current is easy with newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.

Eigenmann & Veronelli Group announces a strategic partnership with Röhm GmbH for the distribution of DEGADUR(R) methacrylate-based resins across europe and the mediterranean region. Eigenmann & Veronelli Group ("EV Group"), Italy's leading and internationally oriented distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients, further strengthens its Coatings & Construction portfolio through a new strategic agreement with Röhm GmbH, a global leader in the methacrylate chemistry. The partnership extends the collaboration to the distribution of the full DEGADUR(R) range, Röhm's high-performance reactive methacrylate resins engineered for industrial and commercial flooring applications. These solvent less systems, which cure rapidly even at low temperatures, ensure minimal downtime, excellent mechanical and chemical resistance, and broad application versatility on multiple substrates including concrete, cement, steel, tiles and asphalt. With this agreement, EV consolidates its distribution presence in Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, Turkey, Poland, Greece, Albania, and Slovenia, bringing advanced technological solutions to customers and enhancing its role as a strategic partner for high-value industrial projects. Simone Tortora, Business Unit Manager Coatings & Construction at EV, says: "We are excited about our new partnership with Röhm. Together, we will be able to deliver the best solutions in the construction sector and support our customers in formulating superior products. This collaboration represents an important step forward in our commitment to innovation and sustainability within the industry. By combining our strong innovation capabilities with Röhm's extensive know-how, we are well positioned to meet the growing market demand for both high-performance and environmentally responsible formulations." Holger Tinz, Head of Sales Methacrylate Resins EMEAI at Röhm, states: "Our DEGADUR(R) resins are engineered for fast curing, durability and reliability under demanding industrial and commercial flooring conditions. With Eigenmann & Veronelli ́s strong technical capabilities and market proximity, we can ensure that customers receive not only high-quality materials, but also the application support required for optimal performance on site."

Röhm advances chemical recycling of PMMA at the Worms site. 2026-03-31 Röhm is investing in the development of chemical recycling of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at its Worms site. For the first time on an industrial scale, the company is using an internally developed technology there that enables the processing and upgrading of chemically recycled MMA. The feedstock is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which is converted back into high-quality MMA through depolymerization. PMMA is a material with a wide range of applications, used among others in vehicle taillights, medical devices and many other products. Due to its chemical structure, this material is particularly suitable for efficient, high-quality recycling processes, where depolymerization can achieve yields exceeding 90 percent. Röhm's new technology can be easily integrated into the existing MMA production plant in Worms, which limits the need for additional infrastructure changes and enables a gradual increase in the share of recycled feedstock in production. With this investment, the company is creating the basis for a closed and scalable material loop for PMMA. From summer 2027 onwards, recycled MMA is to be used for manufacturing products from the proTerra portfolio across Röhm's Verbund structure. Integrating recycled MMA into existing raw material streams is intended to enable the production of materials with properties equivalent to virgin feedstock, while reducing the use of fossil resources. Role of the European Recycling Alliance for PMMA. Scaling the technology up to industrial level is Röhm's contribution to the European Recycling Alliance for PMMA. This alliance was established at the end of 2024 together with industry partners. The aim of this network of companies is to significantly increase the recycling rate of end-of-life PMMA across Europe and to establish a fully closed material loop for this polymer. The alliance partners are responsible for different stages of the value chain. Pekutherm collects and sorts around 5,000 tons of PMMA waste per year across Europe. MyRemono processes these quantities into technical rMMA by means of depolymerization. At Röhm's Worms site, this technical rMMA is then upgraded to MMA with quality equivalent to virgin material. This creates a continuous process chain that covers collection, chemical recycling and reintroduction of the monomer into polymer production. Lukas Dössel, director circular economy at Röhm, points to the importance of this solution for the PMMA value chain: "With rMMA, we are creating a real cycle in the PMMA value chain. This way, we can support our customers in meeting future legal requirements. This is a decisive step towards sustainable material flows in Europe and a reduced dependence on fossil raw materials." Public support and environmental effects. Röhm's investment is co-financed and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The funding program aims to help industrial companies in Germany reduce energy consumption, use resources efficiently and cut emissions. The project in Worms is in line with these objectives by increasing the share of secondary raw materials in production and developing processes with high material efficiency. Integrating recycled MMA into the proTerra product portfolio is intended to enable customers in various industrial sectors to use materials based on feedstock from chemical recycling without giving up existing quality requirements. Material grades prepared on the basis of rMMA can be used in applications where high purity and stable properties are required, such as automotive components or medical products, while reducing the environmental footprint compared with polymers based solely on virgin feedstock. As Dössel emphasizes, the project also has a systemic dimension: "With this investment, we are taking responsibility for a mindful and circular use of plastics. We do not just want to be part of the change, we want to actively drive it forward." In a broader perspective, the implementation of chemical recycling of PMMA and the development of cooperation within the European Recycling Alliance for PMMA may contribute to increasing the availability of high-quality secondary raw materials for the plastics industry in Europe. Tests with real post-consumer waste: on a pilot scale, old car taillights made of PMMA were depolymerized at MyRemono and upgraded at Röhm's Worms site to MMA in virgin material quality. Read more: