Alexei Volkov
Plastic waste is a significant environmental concern, and recycling is a critical part of the solution. While some companies have been misleading the public about their recycling efforts, there are many businesses committed to recycling plastic sustainably and responsibly. These companies are finding innovative ways to turn plastic waste into valuable resources, reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and the environment. This list includes well-known brands like Adidas and Patagonia, as well as specialist recycling companies such as Avangard Innovative, Ultra-Poly Corporation, and SUEZ SA, which have implemented closed-loop recycling systems and advanced technologies to process and repurpose plastic waste on a large scale.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Companies | SUEZ SA, Ultra-Poly Corporation, Fresh Pak Corporation, AMP Robotics, ClimaOne, Plastics For Change, Recykal, ClimeCo, cieTrade, Adidas, Parley, Patagonia, Method, Green Toys, Bureo, Avangard Innovative, B. Schoenberg & Co. Inc., Delta Plastics, UltrePET, CarbonLITE, Veolia, KW Plastics |
| Services | Plastic recycling and waste management, robotic systems for sorting recyclable material, supply chain management, plastic recycling and waste management, closed-loop recycling systems, AI, machine learning, and computer vision technologies, creating recycled plastic products, recycling and waste management, trading and recycling software, agricultural irrigation, production of recycled plastic products, water and waste management, energy efficiency services |
| Impact | 2,810 tons of plastic kept from the ocean, 84% of fabrics made from recycled plastic, 113,312,538 milk jugs recycled, 300 million pounds of recycled plastic produced yearly, 400,000 MT of material channelized, 150,000 tonnes of circular polymers produced annually, 400,000 tonnes of plastic waste processed annually |
| Market | The market for recycled plastics is projected to grow from USD 50.78 billion in 2023 to USD 88.96 billion by 2030 |
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What You'll Learn
Companies that recycle plastic
Plastic recycling is a crucial process that helps reduce the consumption of petroleum, conserve energy, and minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or oceans. Several companies are making significant contributions to the field of plastic recycling and the development of recycled plastic products. Here are some notable examples:
B&B Plastics Recycling Inc.
B&B Plastics Recycling Inc. is a prominent plastic recycling company based in North America. The company has established a strong presence in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, with five plastic recycling facilities. They specialize in recycling various types of plastics, including PVC resins, HDPE, PC, and LDPE. B&B Plastics offers a diverse product range, including wide spec, custom compounds, generic prime, regrind materials, and repelletized products.
Ultra Poly Corporation
Ultra Poly Corporation is a leading plastic recycling company with the capacity to produce 300 million pounds of recycled plastic annually. They operate five manufacturing facilities and 13 extrusion lines. The company provides custom polyethylene, PET, polypropylene, ABS, and other specialized plastic resins. Ultra-Poly Corporation partners with other organizations to recycle thermoplastic scrap for lower-quality applications.
SUEZ SA
SUEZ SA is a France-based company specializing in water treatment and waste management. They have a strong global presence, operating in five continents. SUEZ SA's crucial market is the recycling of plastic, and they have established nine specialist facilities worldwide to process plastic waste. Annually, the company produces 150,000 tonnes of circular polymers and processes nearly 400,000 tonnes of plastic waste. Their recycling plant in Thailand focuses on recycling Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) plastic.
PureCycle
PureCycle is a company dedicated to the sustainable plastic revolution. They have developed a unique purification process to transform polypropylene plastic waste into ultra-pure recycled (UPR) resin, similar to virgin-like resin. Their patented recycling process separates color, odor, and impurities from plastic waste feedstock, enabling the creation of a replenishable resource. PureCycle's vision is to create an infinitely sustainable planet by promoting the reuse of recycled plastics.
AMP Robotics
AMP Robotics is a company that creates innovative robotic systems for sorting recyclable materials. They utilize their proprietary AI platform, AMP Neuron, to identify and classify different types of recyclables from mixed material streams. By employing AI and automation, AMP Robotics enhances the efficiency and accuracy of the recycling process.
TerraCycle
TerraCycle is a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials. They offer a range of free programs and recycling solutions for almost every form of waste. TerraCycle develops custom supply chains to collect and process unique recycled materials, such as beach plastic and festival waste. Their innovation, Loop, is a reuse platform that enables companies to redesign disposable packaging into durable, reusable alternatives.
Additionally, companies like Adidas, Patagonia, Fab Habitat, Preserve, Recover, Suga, Green Toys, and Bureo are also making significant strides in creating and utilizing recycled plastic products.
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Businesses that use recycled plastic
One notable example is Adidas, which partnered with Parley for the Oceans, an organization dedicated to addressing ocean threats. In 2019, Adidas produced approximately 11 million pairs of shoes using recycled plastics, intercepting over 2,810 tons of plastic that could have entered the oceans. Their collaboration resulted in stylish sneakers and apparel that combine Adidas' performance technology with sustainable materials, mimicking the colours of the environments they aim to protect.
Patagonia is another leader in recycled plastic products, with a long history of recycling polyester since the 1990s. Their jackets and clothing lines are made from recycled plastic soda bottles, and as of now, 84% of their fabrics are recycled plastic. Additionally, Allbirds, a footwear company, is known for using 100% recycled materials, including recycled cardboard, plastic, and castor bean oil. They have recycled over 12 million water bottles, and their manufacturing process consumes 60% less energy compared to synthetic shoe companies.
In the clothing industry, Recover Brands stands out for its commitment to using various recycled materials, from cotton swept off factory floors to polyester made from recycled plastic barrels and soda bottles. They have also improved their manufacturing process, reduced dye usage, and eliminated plastic packaging to minimize their environmental impact. Similarly, Aday, a minimalist clothing label, offers the Waste Nothing Jacket, made from 41 recycled plastic water bottles, showcasing its versatility and eco-friendliness.
Beyond footwear and clothing, companies like Green Toys create imaginative children's toys from recycled milk jugs, promoting sustainability in the toy industry. Bureo, a B corporation, transforms discarded plastic fishing nets into clothing, sunglasses, and even skateboards, aligning with its mission to clean up the oceans. Furthermore, Ultra-Poly Corporation specializes in recycling plastics and provides custom polyethylene, PET, polypropylene, and other specialized resins. They collaborate with various industries to recycle and repurpose plastic waste.
These businesses, and many others, are pioneers in adopting recycled plastic, driving the world towards a greener and more sustainable future. By embracing recycled materials, they are not only reducing their environmental footprint but also meeting consumer demands for more sustainable products.
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Government initiatives to promote recycling
As the world faces a climate crisis, governments are responsible for exploring ways to promote and support more extensive recycling practices. Here are some government initiatives to promote recycling:
Public Education Campaigns
Governments can raise awareness about the importance of recycling and its benefits for the planet and communities through educational campaigns. This includes distributing informative brochures, posters, television commercials, radio spots, and online advertisements. Educating the public about proper recycling methods and the negative consequences of improper recycling is essential to encourage behavioural changes.
Financial Incentives
Governments can offer financial incentives to businesses and individuals who actively participate in designated recycling programs. This encourages more people to recycle and can help create a sustainable future. For example, the RECOVER Act drafted by the Plastics Industry Association proposes allocating $500 million in federal grants to improve recycling programs and infrastructure.
Infrastructure Development
Governments should invest in improving recycling infrastructure, including upgrading plants that receive and process recyclables and expanding materials collection. This makes it more convenient for people to recycle and reduces the contamination of recycling streams with non-recyclable items. Proper infrastructure ensures that recyclables do not end up in landfills due to a lack of processing capabilities.
Promoting Recycled Products
Governments can encourage the use of recycled materials in new products, supporting a circular economy and boosting the value of recyclables. Educating consumers about the importance of purchasing items made with recycled content can help create a market for recycled materials. Metals, plastics, glass, cardboard, and paper are some of the materials with increasing recycled content.
Community Engagement
Local governments can engage elected officials, community leaders, and residents in recycling initiatives. Communicating the benefits of recycling, sharing success stories, and providing clear information about acceptable recyclable materials can increase participation rates. Towns can distribute promotional materials, encourage the use of recycling bins, and remind residents to keep recyclables out of the trash.
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Technologies that support recycling
Technologies play a crucial role in supporting the recycling of plastics, with advancements driving the transition to a circular economy and helping to address the global plastic waste crisis. Here are some key technologies that enable and enhance plastic recycling:
Mechanical Recycling: Mechanical recycling is the most common technology currently used for plastic recycling. It involves physical processes such as sorting, grinding, washing, separating, drying, and re-granulating plastics. While it can be labour-intensive and result in lower-quality recycled plastics, it remains a dominant method due to its ability to recover plastics suitable for substitution. However, the industry is exploring advanced recycling technologies as a potential alternative or complement to mechanical recycling.
Chemical Recycling: Chemical recycling uses heat, chemical reactions, or a combination of both, to convert used plastic into virgin-equivalent plastic, fuel, or other valuable chemicals. It promotes a closed-loop system, preventing plastics from ending up in landfills or being incinerated. Chemical recycling has three main categories: conversion, decomposition, and purification. Conversion focuses on breaking down polymers into smaller molecules, which can be achieved through techniques like pyrolysis and gasification. Decomposition uses heat or chemicals to break down polymers, and some methods employ enzymes at low temperatures, reducing energy consumption. Purification, on the other hand, uses solvents to separate polymers from additives or contaminants without altering their structure.
Advanced Recycling: Advanced recycling technologies offer a transformative approach to plastic waste, converting used solid plastics into their gas or liquid raw materials. These raw materials then serve as feedstock for creating new, high-quality plastics suitable for various products and packaging. Advanced recycling has the potential to divert significant amounts of waste from landfills and support a more sustainable, circular economy. It can also help meet the growing demand for recycled plastics from consumers and companies striving to achieve their sustainability goals.
Collection and Sorting Technologies: Improvements in collection schemes and sorting technologies are vital for increasing plastic recycling rates. Separate collection of plastic waste, rather than mixed collection, significantly enhances the effectiveness of recycling processes. Efficient sorting technologies ensure that separated items are delivered to recycling plants, contributing to higher recycling rates and supporting the transition to a circular economy.
Organic Recycling: Organic recycling involves the controlled microbiological treatment of biodegradable plastics waste under aerobic (composting) or anaerobic (biogasification) conditions. This process converts specific polymers into stabilised organic residues, carbon dioxide, methane, and water. Organic recycling plays a role in the transition to a sustainable and circular plastics economy, helping to address the environmental impact of plastic waste.
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Recycling as a business model
With the world increasingly prioritizing sustainability, recycling has become a profitable business model. Recycling is an essential component of sustainable practices, mitigating waste, conserving resources, and minimizing pollution. It also reduces energy during manufacturing by 66%, leading to less fuel burn and less harm to the local environment.
The recycling industry has evolved, attracting entrepreneurs and investors who recognize its financial potential and positive environmental impact. Technological advancements, such as automated sorting systems, waste management software, and improved recycling techniques, have increased operational efficiency and reduced costs.
Starting a recycling business requires careful planning and execution. It is essential to determine the specific customer segments you want to target, such as residential households, businesses, or specific industries. You may also consider specializing in a particular type of recycling, such as e-waste, paper, plastic, or metal, to differentiate yourself in the market.
Researching and obtaining the necessary permits and licenses to operate a recycling business in your area is crucial. Contacting local government agencies and environmental departments will help you understand the specific regulations and compliance requirements. Additionally, assessing your financial needs and developing a comprehensive business plan outlining expenses, revenue projections, and potential returns on investment is vital.
Several companies are leading the way in recycling plastic products. For instance, Adidas has produced around 11 million pairs of shoes using recycled plastics, and Patagonia has been recycling polyester for its jackets since the 1990s, with 84% of their fabrics now made from recycled plastic. Ultra-Poly Corporation provides custom polyethylene, PET, polypropylene, and other specialized plastic resins, while companies like Green Toys create imaginative children's toys from recycled milk jugs.
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Frequently asked questions
Some companies that recycle plastic include:
- Avangard Innovative
- B. Schoenberg & Co., Inc.
- Delta Plastics
- UltrePET LLC
- CarbonLITE Industries
- Veolia Environment SA
- Suez Recycling & Recovery Holdings
- KW Plastics
- Ultra-Poly Corporation
- Fresh Pak Corporation
- ClimeCo
- AMP Robotics
- Plastics For Change
- Recykal
- Adidas
- Patagonia
- Green Toys
- Bureo
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is the most established organization that sets the standard for what is and is not recyclable. They provide design guidance, recognition, recycled content certification, policy education, advocacy, and more.
Some companies that use recycled plastic in their products include Adidas, Patagonia, Green Toys, and Bureo. Adidas has made about 11 million pairs of shoes using recycled plastics, and 84% of Patagonia's fabrics are made from recycled plastic. Green Toys creates imaginative children's toys using recycled milk jugs, and Bureo turns discarded plastic fishing nets into clothing, sunglasses, and skateboards.
