What is thermochemical recycling?
Plastic consists of long and resistant hydrocarbon molecules. The molecular structure makes the material extremely durable on one hand, but hard to recycle on the other. Plastic is only recyclable when exposed to heat. The chemical reaction required must take place in meticulously controlled conditions. Only a handful of providers globally can achieve that. We are one of them. Thermochemical recycling technology allows us to process various types of plastic waste, including mixed plastic. The outputs include pure oil, fuel gas, and carbon residue. Polymers (plastics) are broken down to monomers, sustainable raw material used to make new plastics. These can be thermochemically recycled again. And again. And again.
Why is thermochemical recycling key to a cleaner planet?
According to OECD, approximately 360 million tons of plastic waste are made each year. 9% is recycled. 12% is incinerated. The rest is either landfilled or ends up in the wild. Out of the recycled plastics, only 9% is reused. These data make it clear that even more diligently collecting plastic waste is not a solution. Let’s count further: it takes two kilograms of petroleum to make one kilogram of plastics. The byproduct is six kilograms of CO2 per one kilogram of plastics. Thermochemical recycling is a sustainable solution to both issues: first, how to get rid of accumulating plastic waste, and second, how to reduce raw material demand when making new plastics. The technology turns plastic waste into green resources that may fully replace unsustainable petroleum-based products.
