Novoloop, a plastic circular economy technology company, is constructing a pilot plant in India, marking a major milestone toward its vision of a truly circular world. The collaboration with Aether Industries, a speciality chemical manufacturer and chemical process development provider, will demonstrate the scalability of Novoloop’s Lifecycling™ technology.
The breakthrough technology transforms post-consumer plastic waste into virgin-quality monomers for the synthesis of virgin-quality, high-performance materials such as the company’s Lifecycled™ thermoplastic polyurethane.
“The integrated pilot plant, mirroring our full-scale commercial process design, marks a pivotal advancement in technology readiness,” said Nedim Hasanbegovic, VP of Engineering at Novoloop. Equipped with industrially-applicable instrumentation, process controls, and safety systems, it will operate continuously confirming the reliability of this first-of-a-kind Lifecycling™ process.
The crucial step will demonstrate the technology in a real-world 24/7 operating environment, paving the way for full-scale production. Additionally, the operations at Aether will validate key techno-economic aspects such as product yield and recovery rates, demonstrating the financial attractiveness of Novoloop’s proprietary technology.
Novoloop’s Lifecycling™ technology provides an economical and sustainable solution to
hard-to-recycle plastics. By using highly scalable mechanisms of oxidation to convert post-consumer polyethylene into useful monomers for durable materials, Novoloop expects to provide its products at prices competitive with fossil-based products. Furthermore, an ISO-compliant lifecycle assessment shows that Novoloop monomers can realize a carbon footprint reduction of up to 91% when compared to the conventional process of producing adipic acid.
As per the press release, the project will unfold in phases, with the startup of initial operations commencing in Q1 2024 and culminating in a 70-metric ton annual plastic intake capacity by the end of 2024. The phased approach allows for meticulous data collection and optimization at each step, ensuring a robust and scalable operation. Products generated from this pilot plant will be made available to customers for trial and commercial release.
“Aether Industries is happy to partner with Novoloop on this transformative project,” said Dr. Aman Desai, Director and Senior VP of Research, Manufacturing, and Operations. Desai added, “Our combined expertise in chemical manufacturing and Novoloop’s innovative circular solution creates an ideal platform to usher in a new era of sustainable plastic management”.
“The pilot plant is a testament to the commitment of the Novoloop team and our partners at Aether Industries to tackle the global plastic crisis,” commented Miranda Wang, Cofounder and CEO of Novoloop. Wang added, “By scaling this technology, we are creating a pathway towards a truly circular world, where plastic waste becomes a valuable resource”.
