PureCycle Technologies has successfully converted waste carpets into ultra-pure recycled polypropylene (UPRP) resin through proprietary plastic recycling technology developed by Procter & Gamble (P & G).
The successful expansion of the technology unleashes the potential of a large number of obsolete PPs, returning them to their original state. This technology will significantly increase the demand for waste PP and will help provide alternatives for landfilling and exporting plastic waste.
The Feed Evaluation Unit (FEU) is the first of two phases at PureCycle's plant in Overhang, Ohio. The second phase will be online in the summer of 2021 and will process 119 million pounds (54 thousand tons) of waste PP annually.
The plant is expected to produce more than 105 million pounds (47627 tons) of PP in a similar native state each year. These PPs will be used in consumer packaging, home decoration, and other applications where there are currently very limited options for recycling PP.
PureCycle is also committed to submitting a non-physical letter to the FDA to use its UPRP for food-grade applications.
Mike Otworth, CEO of PureCycle Technologies, said: "People have a huge demand for high-quality recyclable PP, and this milestone is a big step for us and the industry as a whole to address the growing market for recyclable applications. This An achievement not only demonstrates the scale of the technology, but also builds on the momentum of our business as we expand our operations beyond our first factory. "
The development of this technology began when P & G sought more ways to incorporate more recycled content into its applications, especially for PP. Due to the limited amount of rPP available on the market, Procter & Gamble began developing its own process to purify waste PP. This innovation remains a key initiative for Procter & Gamble, with the goal of reducing petroleum plastics in packaging by 50%.
The PureCycle process removes color, odor, and impurities, producing a resin that resembles the original. PureCycle's first factory has been fully subscribed and has begun to select sites for its large-scale operations in Europe.
Kathy Fish, Chief Research, Development and Innovation Officer, Procter & Gamble, said: "This technology removes almost all contaminants and colors from used plastics and has the power to revolutionize the plastics recycling industry through the use of recycled plastics by P & G and companies around the world. Raw materials that provide almost the same performance and properties in a wide range of applications. "
Although FEU is located at the site of the first plant, it is a permanent asset of the company and will enable PureCycle to optimize operating conditions and dispose of used PP from around the world to help future plants in other regions resize.