Last week, Orlando, Florida-based PureCycle Technologies announced the publication of its very first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. According to the report, the company’s proprietary purification process for recycling polypropylene waste uses less energy and has lower carbon emissions than new plastic production - claims that are backed up in the report with third-party preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data.
PureCycle holds a global license to commercialise the patented, solvent-based purification recycling technology developed by Procter & Gamble for converting waste PP into ultra-pure resin. The process removes colour, odour and other contaminants from recycled feedstock resulting in an ultra-pure PP suitable for any market.
The report provides insight into PureCycle’s operational progress on the facilities it is building at Ironton, Ohio and Augusta, Georgia, as well as its growth in terms of workforce and technology advancement.
Based on the design of the company’s flagship facility in Ohio, carbon emissions are expected to be 35% lower compared to new PP production and to use 79% less energy. As well, the company says, the PureCycle process is expected to use 79 percent less energy than new PP production. PureCycle is also positioning itself to connect brands with high-quality, sustainable plastic to deliver on their promises to reduce new plastic production and to answer consumer demands for real sustainability, the company said.
The ‘born digital’ plant will use the latest generation of automation technology, employing virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence to allow the company to complete projects faster, and operate with world-class performance and enhanced safety.
“As a plastic recycling technology company aiming to reduce plastic waste, partnering with leading brands to help them create sustainable consumer products and transforming the industry, it’s essential we also do our part to minimise our environmental impact and conserve resources,” said Mike Otworth, the company’s chairman and CEO. “As we continue to refine our approach, we will look for impactful, innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions and utilise less energy. This is just the beginning.”