Chemical Recycling of Plastics Patent Landscape 2026
Chemical Recycling of Plastics Patent Landscape in 2026
Chemical recycling of plastics has reached a growth-stage field with multi-year filing volumes more than doubling relative to the prior window, driven by a concentrated group of petrochemical and specialty-chemical leaders anchored by Eastman Chemical. Activity is spread across pyrolysis-oriented hydrocarbon-refining routes and polymer-dissolution pathways, with Europe and the United States the primary filing jurisdictions.
Eastman Chemical leads a moderately concentrated field with a clear tier gap at the top
Eastman Chemical Company holds the top position with 317 patent families, ahead of SK Innovation and Chevron USA at 264 and 261 patent families respectively. SK Geo Centric and SABIC Global Technologies follow closely, indicating that the leading positions are held primarily by large integrated petrochemical and specialty-chemical companies.
The top five filers account for 31% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating moderate concentration: a dominant cluster exists, but no single actor commands an overwhelming share. The gap between first place and the mid-tier is meaningful, with the top four applicants each exceeding 240 patent families while the tenth-ranked Lummus Technology sits at 92.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastman Chemical Company | 317 | |
| 2 | SK Innovation Co., Ltd. | 264 | |
| 3 | Chevron USA Inc. | 261 | |
| 4 | SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd. | 249 | |
| 5 | SABIC Global Technologies BV | 226 | |
| 6 | PROCTER & GAMBLE CO | 210 | |
| 7 | IFP Energies Nouvelles | 176 | |
| 8 | Revalyu Resources GmbH | 128 | |
| 9 | LG Chem Ltd. | 117 | |
| 10 | Lummus Technology Inc. | 92 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | UOP LLC (Honeywell UOP) | 91 | |
| 12 | ExxonMobil Product Solutions Co. | 88 | |
| 13 | Plastic Energy Ltd. | 73 | |
| 14 | Repsol SA | 73 | |
| 15 | Carbios | 72 | |
| 16 | Mura Technology Ltd. | 70 | |
| 17 | Basell Poliolefine Italia SRL | 66 | |
| 18 | SK Chemicals Co., Ltd. | 58 | |
| 19 | Borealis AG | 56 | |
| 20 | Evonik Operations GmbH | 55 |
The leaders’ positions suggest that incumbents with refining infrastructure and polymer-chemistry expertise have moved earliest and most aggressively. New, dedicated recycling specialists such as Revalyu Resources, Carbios, Mura Technology, and Plastic Energy appear in the ranking, signalling that technology-focused entrants are establishing defensible positions alongside diversified chemical majors.
Filing counts for 2024 and 2025 are understated relative to final totals due to patent publication lag; recent-period figures should be treated as minimums rather than complete counts. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Multi-year growth is robust, with pyrolysis and polymer-processing routes dominating the technology mix
The annual filing trend illustrates the field’s rapid expansion since 2019, while the technology-composition chart shows how activity is distributed across distinct chemical-process branches.
Annual filing trend
Annual filings climbed sharply from 2019 onward, reaching a peak in 2023. The apparent decline in 2024 and 2025 reflects publication lag rather than a real contraction; the three-year recent window sits 103% above the prior equivalent window, confirming the field remains in net expansion on a multi-year basis. The 2026 figure represents only a partial year and should not be read as a trend.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
C08J (Polymer processing and solutions) and C10G (Hydrocarbon oils and refining) together account for the two largest technology branches, reflecting the two dominant process families: solvent-based or dissolution recycling of polymers, and pyrolysis-to-fuel or pyrolysis-to-feedstock upgrading. B29B (Plastics preparation), C07C (Acyclic and carbocyclic compounds), and C10B (Coke and destructive distillation) form a secondary cluster, while enzymatic and biological routes in C12N and C12P are present but comparatively sparse.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Recovery of recycle content co2 from pyrolysis flu…
A process and system for recovering a recycle content carbon dioxide is provided that can lower the carbon footprint and global warming potential of a chemical recycling facility. More particularly, a pyrolysis flue gas and/or a pyrolysis gas from waste plastic pyrolysis may be treated in an absorber system to thereby form a recovered CO<sub>2 </sub>stream… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robust Integrated Process for Conversion of Waste … | 258 |
| 2 | An integrated process configuration involving the … | 241 |
| 3 | Integrated Process for Conversion of Waste Plastic… | 225 |
| 4 | Process for converting waste plastic into lubricat… | 203 |
| 5 | Process for converting mixed waste plastic (MWP) i… | 172 |
| 6 | Method for separating and recovering dimethyl tere… | 171 |
| 7 | Recycled polyester-containing polyester structure … | 170 |
| 8 | An integrated process configuration involving the … | 167 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
The combination of strong recent growth, moderate concentration, active cross-company collaboration, and broad geographic filing creates both well-defended core routes and identifiable adjacent spaces for new entrants.
Growth stage, expanding on a multi-year basis with 2023 as the peak annual year
The field is classified as Growth stage: the most recent three-year filing window is 103% above the prior equivalent window, confirming sustained expansion. Annual volume has eased from the 2023 peak, and the most recent years carry additional undercount from publication lag. For R&D planners, this means foundational process patents are being filed now and freedom-to-operate windows are narrowing rapidly.
Growth stageModerate concentration with a clear top-four cluster and an active second tier
The top five filers hold 31% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers. Below the top four, the ranking features both large diversified players (IFP Energies Nouvelles, LG Chem, Lummus Technology, ExxonMobil) and dedicated recycling specialists (Revalyu Resources, Carbios, Mura Technology). This two-tier structure suggests that niche or application-specific strategies remain viable alongside the integrated-industry incumbents.
Moderate concentrationSK Innovation and SK Geo Centric form the field’s most active co-filing pair, with IFP-led consortia also prominent
The most active co-filing relationship is between SK Innovation and SK Geo Centric, with 262 jointly filed patent families, reflecting a coordinated group strategy on pyrolysis upgrading. IFP Energies Nouvelles collaborates with national oil company partners (63 joint families) and with JEPLAN (9 families). BASF appears in multiple collaborations with Northwestern University, BASF (China), and trinamiX, pointing to cross-sector academic-industrial partnerships. Procter and Gamble co-files with the University of Michigan Board of Trustees.
Active co-filingEurope and the United States are the primary filing destinations; India is the leading emerging market
Europe via the EPO and the United States are the top two jurisdictions by patent-record count, with WIPO PCT filings in third place reflecting broad international prosecution strategies. India ranks fourth, notably ahead of China, South Korea, and Japan, suggesting that filers view India as a commercially relevant market for chemical recycling deployment. China’s relatively lower rank is notable given its polymer production volumes and may represent a gap worth monitoring.
Europe & US leadGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| SK Innovation Co., Ltd. | SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd. | 262 |
| IFP Energies Nouvelles | ADNOC (National Oil Company) | 63 |
| SABIC Global Technologies BV | Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) | 11 |
| SABIC Global Technologies BV | Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) | 10 |
| IFP Energies Nouvelles | JEPLAN Inc. | 9 |
| BASF SE | Northwestern University | 6 |
| BASF SE | BASF (China) Co., Ltd. | 6 |
| Procter & Gamble Co. | Regents of the University of Michigan | 4 |
| BASF SE | trinamiX GmbH | 3 |
| BASF SE | BASF Corporation | 3 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Eastman and SK Innovation lead on divergent technology routes
The top applicants divide broadly between polymer-dissolution and solvent-based routes (Eastman, Procter and Gamble, Revalyu) and pyrolysis-to-hydrocarbon upgrading routes (SK Innovation, SK Geo Centric, Chevron, SABIC, IFP). Understanding this route differentiation is essential for positioning new filings.
Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman holds 317 patent families and leads across C10G hydrocarbon-refining, C08J polymer-processing, and B29B plastics-preparation branches, indicating a broad process portfolio spanning both pyrolysis upgrading and molecular recycling. Its recent three-year filing momentum is essentially flat at minus 1%, suggesting the company has reached a steady-state filing rate rather than accelerating further.
families: 317SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
SK Innovation holds 264 patent families with a trajectory of 11 times its prior three-year filing volume, indicating a dramatic recent scale-up of its recycling IP program. Its technology emphasis is concentrated almost entirely in C10G hydrocarbon-refining subclasses, reflecting a pyrolysis-to-fuel or pyrolysis-to-feedstock strategy. Its affiliate SK Geo Centric (249 patent families, 13 times its prior three-year volume) files on overlapping technology and the two entities are the most active co-filing pair in the field.
families: 264| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Eastman Chemical Company | 197 | ▬ -1% |
| SK Innovation Co., Ltd. | 244 | ▲ 11× vs prior 3-yr |
| SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd. | 243 | ▲ 13× vs prior 3-yr |
| Chevron USA Inc. | 124 | ▲ +44% |
| SABIC Global Technologies BV | 118 | ▲ 5.1× vs prior 3-yr |
| Procter & Gamble Co. | 20 | ▼ -77% |
| IFP Energies Nouvelles | 75 | ▼ -12% |
Under-served adjacent branches worth monitoring for white-space positioning
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant C08J and C10G clusters show lower relative filing share despite plausible technical relevance to chemical recycling workflows. These are observations of relative sparsity; each should be evaluated against specific technical and commercial entry conditions before treating them as investment priorities.
B01J · Chemical and physical processes and catalysis
With 650 patent records, B01J represents a lower-share branch relative to the dominant processing classes, despite catalyst design being central to both pyrolysis upgrading and solvent-based depolymerisation. Catalyst selectivity, tolerance to mixed or contaminated plastic feedstocks, and regenerability are active technical challenges with limited dedicated IP coverage here. An entrant focused on novel heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst systems specifically optimised for real-world mixed plastic streams could find defensible space within this branch.
Search this in Eureka →C12N and C12P · Microorganisms, genetic engineering, and enzymatic synthesis
Enzymatic and biological depolymerisation routes — exemplified by PETase and cutinase-class enzymes for PET — appear in C12N and C12P with 129 and 102 patent records respectively, making them among the sparsest branches relative to the overall corpus size. Carbios is the visible specialist, but the broader enzymatic route for non-PET polymers (polyurethanes, polyamides) remains comparatively open. Entry paths include enzyme engineering, process integration with upstream sorting, and combination bio-chemical hybrid routes.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology route across IPC branches
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | C08J 11 · Polymer processing & solutions | C10G 1 · Hydrocarbon oils & refining | B29B 17 · Plastics preparation | C10B 53 · Coke & destructive distillation | C10G 9 · Hydrocarbon oils & refining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastman Chemical Company | Strong · 176 | Strong · 234 | Moderate · 111 | Moderate · 60 | Emerging · 46 |
| Chevron USA Inc. | Moderate · 81 | Strong · 201 | Absent | Strong · 154 | Emerging · 29 |
| SK Innovation Co., Ltd. | Absent | Strong · 252 | Emerging · 27 | Emerging · 22 | Absent |
| Procter & Gamble Co. | Strong · 194 | Absent | Moderate · 82 | Absent | Absent |
| SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd. | Absent | Strong · 248 | Emerging · 27 | Absent | Absent |
| SABIC Global Technologies BV | Absent | Strong · 167 | Absent | Moderate · 34 | Moderate · 61 |
| IFP Energies Nouvelles | Moderate · 56 | Strong · 114 | Absent | Moderate · 24 | Moderate · 48 |
Frequently asked questions
The evidence set covers 5,571 patent families in chemical recycling of plastics across the global corpus.
Eastman Chemical Company leads with 317 patent families, ahead of SK Innovation at 264 and Chevron USA at 261 patent families.
Yes, on a multi-year basis the field is in a growth stage: recent three-year filing volume is 103% above the prior equivalent window. Annual filings peaked in 2023 and have eased since, but 2024 and 2025 figures are understated by publication lag and should not be interpreted as a decline.
Europe via the EPO receives the highest patent-record count, followed closely by the United States and WIPO PCT. India ranks fourth, ahead of China, South Korea, and Japan.
C08J (Polymer processing and solutions) and C10G (Hydrocarbon oils and refining) are the two largest technology branches, reflecting solvent-based or dissolution recycling and pyrolysis-to-feedstock upgrading as the dominant process families. Enzymatic routes in C12N and C12P are present but comparatively sparse.
SK Innovation and SK Geo Centric are the most active co-filing pair with 262 jointly filed patent families. IFP Energies Nouvelles co-files with national oil company partners (63 joint families) and with JEPLAN (9 families). BASF has active collaborations with Northwestern University, BASF (China), and trinamiX.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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