Cyclyx International, a consortium-based supply chain innovation company with a mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%, has announced that NOVA Chemicals has joined as the newest member of the consortium.
NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life healthier and safer. With a focus on sustainability, NOVA Chemicals works toward polyethylene solutions that enable a more circular economy for plastics. Through its membership in Cyclyx, NOVA Chemicals will continue its work to utilize more post-use plastics in its feedstock supply chain.
“NOVA Chemicals has a bold ambition to create a plastics circular economy and work collaboratively toward a low carbon, zero plastic waste future. Joining the Cyclyx consortium provides us with greater supply reliability, accelerating our ability to meet the demands of consumers for high-quality products made with post-consumer resin,” stated Greg DeKunder, VP Polyethylene Marketing and Circular Economy.
“We’re excited to welcome NOVA Chemicals to the Cyclyx consortium,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO for Cyclyx. “Their dedication to keeping plastics out of our natural environment and redesigning plastic products for optimal recycling or recovery is in line with everything that Cyclyx is working to achieve. Their membership will be a great addition to our mission to help increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%.”
Contacts
Melanie Burger
Cyclyx
Director of Corporate Communications
mburger@cyclyx.com
Andie Stiles
NOVA Chemicals
Marketing Communications and Trade PR
Andie.Stiles@novachem.com
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock supply chain innovator working with industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
About NOVA Chemicals Corporation
NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life healthier, easier and safer. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to Sustainability and Responsible Care®. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is wholly owned ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Visit NOVA Chemicals on the Internet at www.novachem.com.
In 2009, Mr. Bhatia led Saffron Hill’s investment into Agilyx’s first institutional investment round and has been an active shareholder since that time and a Board member until his appointment as CEO. While managing Saffron Hill Ventures, he has led its investment activity in a wide variety of companies ranging from bio-pesticides and sustainable textiles to internet e-commerce, and software. He currently serves on the Board of Coyuchi Inc., a California-based leader in the sustainable textiles segment, he is a director of Saffron Hill Ventures Ltd. and is on the Board of Cyclyx International LLC, Agilyx’s plastic waste recycling feedstock management joint venture.
Prior to co-founding Saffron Hill Ventures, Mr. Bhatia worked as Advisor to the Chairman of Loot Ltd. on e-commerce strategy and investment, and in a venture capital capacity for Lord Jacob Rothschild, evaluating technology venture opportunities. Mr. Bhatia has had a long-term interest in environmental technology and policy. After interning in the Clinton administration’s White House Office on Environmental Policy, he worked in the environment and energy consulting groups at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, and Dyncorp.
Mr. Bhatia earned an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Business, an MA in International Relations and Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a BA in Environmental Science from Occidental College.
Mr. Laroche joined Agilyx in December 2023 to lead Agilyx’s Corporate Development activities. As Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development since July 2024, he leads the company’s financial strategy and oversees its corporate growth initiatives. His focus includes advancing the feedstock management business in collaboration with Cyclyx strategic partners and engaging with capital markets to secure sustainable growth.
Mr. Laroche is a seasoned finance leader with a proven track record in investment management, strategic planning, capital raising, and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Agilyx, he served as CFO of a sustainable building materials startup, where he successfully guided the company through multiple funding rounds. With over a decade of experience at BNP Paribas’s Principal Investment Group in New York, he deployed over $250 million in direct private equity and venture capital transactions across energy, infrastructure, and climate technology.
Mr. Laroche is passionate about sustainable and circular solutions, dedicating his career to advancing projects that promote environmental stewardship and resource efficiency. His expertise in these areas is instrumental in driving Agilyx’s mission to revolutionize recycling and turning waste into value. He holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School.
Cyclyx International, a consortium-based waste plastic innovation company, together with its members, is introducing its mission brand, 10 to 90®, and associated 10 to 90 Challenge. The 10 to 90 Challenge is a series of new takeback and engagement programs designed to divert more low-quality waste plastics away from landfill and into the Cyclyx system, where those waste plastics can be recycled with the ultimate goal to increase recycling rates of plastics from 10% to 90%.
Cyclyx, in collaboration with its members, plans to bring to market a series of innovations that enable more recycling options for low quality waste plastics that currently do not get recycled. Internationally, only 10% of all plastics produced annually are recycled with the rest ending up in landfills, the environment or incinerators. Cyclyx is working to find ways to get this waste plastic out of the trash bins and into the Cyclyx system for Cyclyx and its members to recycle those low quality plastics in an effort to raise the recycling rates of plastic from 10% to 90%.
The 10 to 90® brand will introduce a set of takeback programs, education, rewards and engagement tools, sponsored by the Cyclyx consortium companies,designed to incent small changes of behavior at home in order to increase the amount of waste plastics diverted from landfills and into the Cyclyx supply chain. Those waste plastics can then be recycled to a range of products by consortium members.
This new approach has the ability to help greatly expand the range of plastic waste that society recycles, including materials not commonly accepted by traditional recyclers due to poor quality, contamination levels or the chemical complexity of the waste.
The brand’s associated 10 to 90 Challenge is a call to action for individuals within select geographic areas to help increase their local plastic recycling rate to upwards of 90% from the average of 10%. The Challenge will be rolled out in collaboration with municipalities, retail establishments, corporations and universities in an effort to help drive scalable, community-focused solutions that accelerate plastic recycling, locally in the short term with a goal to impact global recycling rates in the long term.
“The introduction of 10 to 90® is a significant strategic pillar for Cyclyx,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “We all can do more to responsibly manage waste plastics and boost plastic circularity. 10 to 90® is an effort to significantly increase the amount of plastics diverted from landfills and into our system, where we can then find new recycling options with Cyclyx. By engaging individuals, companies, communities, and other organizations in this mission, we can truly begin to address the plastic waste challenge and increase the plastic recycling rate from 10% to 90%.”
Contacts
Melanie Burger
Director, Corporate Communications
mburger@cyclyx.com
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock management company working with industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire, USA, March 15, 2022 – Cyclyx International, a consortium-based supply chain innovation company with a mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%, has announced BNSF Railway (BNSF), one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies, has joined the consortium and John Lovenburg, vice president of environment and sustainability at BNSF, will be joining Cyclyx’s executive advisory board (EAB).
As Cyclyx begins to scale its ability to divert more waste plastic from the landfill and into its new member-based supply chain systems for recycling, expertise in circular economy logistics and cost effective transportation solutions will become critical. BNSF, being a leader in the freight transportation and logistics industry with strong sustainability goals, will bring important insight and expertise to the consortium.
“BNSF Railway is pleased to join the Cyclyx consortium and we support its ambitious 90 percent plastics recycling mission,” said John Lovenburg, Vice President, Environment & Sustainability. “We look forward to contributing our expertise in circular economy logistics and rail solutions, and partnering and learning from the innovative member companies.”
“We’re excited to welcome BNSF to the consortium and Mr. Lovenburg to the EAB,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “With our increased member demand for customized plastic feedstock, we need to develop and/or optimize our logistics programs and we are excited to have BNSF as a member so we can leverage their expertise and current operations that will help in our collective mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%.”
Contacts
Kate Ringier
VP, Communications & Government Affairs
+ 41 43 883 0396
kate.ringier@agilyx.com
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock supply chain innovator working with industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
About BNSF
BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies. BNSF operates approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com.
PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire, USA, March 11, 2022 – Cyclyx International, a consortium-based supply chain innovation company with a mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%, has announced the creation of a digital asset and data function which will help the company scale its platform internationally. With the expected growth of Cyclyx in 2022 following its announcements of the development of a specialized plastics recovery facility on the Gulf coast and its participation in the Houston Recycling Collaboration, the importance of data intelligence and digital tools to help transform and scale the new plastic recycling economy is paramount.
The new digital asset and data function will be dedicated to advancing the development of the Company’s AI tools, supply chain logistics, optimization of its customized advance plastic processing facilities, ISCC+ certification requirements and the consumer engagement and affinity tools associated with the Company’s new takeback programs. The new group will be led by Matt Durbin who will serve as the SVP of Digital Asset Strategy and Commercialization. Prior to this role, Matt served as the Company’s VP of Operations. In a related move, Joe Ledbetter will be promoted to VP of Operations having served most recently as the Company’s Senior Director of Feedstock, Supply Chain and Operations.
Matt Durbin has been with the company for 5 years and has served in various capacities, first at Agilyx and then transitioning to Cyclyx at its inception in late 2020. Matt has been instrumental in developing the initial supply chain and operating aspects of Cyclyx as well as obtaining international ISCC PLUS certification of Cyclyx’s post-use plastic management system. In addition, Matt has been leading the development of the Cyclyx custom plastic recovery facilities in collaboration with member organizations. In his new role, Matt will help define the ongoing data and digital asset strategies that will allow Cyclyx to scale internationally in support of its 10 to 90 mission.
Joe Ledbetter has been with the company for 8 years, also starting at Agilyx and transitioning to Cyclyx at its inception. Joe has been integral to developing the operating procedures for Agilyx’s technology, serving early on as plant manager at the company’s Tigard facility and setting up sourcing and supply chain elements of the Cyclyx system. In his new role, Joe will be leading the operational aspects of Cyclyx including the development, construction and commissioning of new plastic recovery facilities (PRFs), management oversight of the operations of the PRFs as well as supporting the transitional needs between waste plastics sourcing activities and the various supply chain and logistic elements of all Cyclyx and 10 to 90 operations.
“I’m excited to announce the appointment of Matt Durbin to the role of SVP of Digital Asset Strategy and Joe Ledbetter to the role of VP of Operations,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “Data tools are integral to our mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%. Under Matt’s leadership, this newly created data function within our organization will help improve our ability to collect and convert a broader range of waste plastics into feedstock, allowing us to divert more plastics out of landfill and into the Cyclyx system to be recycled and Joe will help us create a best in class safety and operational culture within the Company as we grow and to manage the tight feedstock specifications that will meet the needs of our offtake customers.”
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock supply chain innovator working with industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
Contacts
Kate Ringier
VP, Communications & Government Affairs
+ 41 43 883 0396
kate.ringier@agilyx.com
Cyclyx International, a consortium-based supply chain innovation company with a mission to help increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%, has welcomed Suncast, the market-leading manufacturer of high-quality resin products made in the U.S.A., to its consortium.
Retailers and consumers know Suncast for its smart and innovative home and garden and storage products. By developing products that incorporate recycled content and can be recycled at their end-of-life, Suncast Corporation is committed to a brighter, more brilliant future.
“Zero waste and recycled content are key components of our Brilliant by Design™ sustainability platform,” stated Jim Ahlborn, CEO of Suncast. “Cyclyx is doing the difficult work of diverting plastics from landfills to use as feedstocks in advanced recycling so that companies like ours can use recycled content in our products. By working with Cyclyx and our retail partners, we’ll be able to implement first-of-their-kind takeback programs so fewer products end up in landfills at the end of their useful lives, and we’ll collaborate with companies that can help us source even more recycled content for our products.”
Suncast’s membership in Cyclyx gives it access to design and implement customized takeback programs and innovations, including plastic waste-based circular feedstock specifications tailored to its specific product pathways, allowing for the inclusion of higher amounts of recycled content in its products.
“We are happy to welcome Suncast to the Cyclyx consortium,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “Suncast’s focus on sustainability and enthusiasm for advancing circular solutions will help us to direct more plastic waste toward its best use and will be a great bolster to our effort to help drive the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%.”
Contacts
Kate Ringier
VP, Communications & Government Affairs
+ 41 43 883 0396
kate.ringier@agilyx.com
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock supply chain innovator working with industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
About Suncast® and Suncast Commercial®
Suncast Corporation is a privately held designer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer and commercial products for the home and industrial markets. The scope of the extensive product range includes innovative items in several categories encompassing: Outdoor Storage, Lawn and Garden, planters, Snow Tools, Deck and Patio Accessories, Outdoor Furniture, and several others.
Suncast continues to be a leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality resin products made in the U.S.A. for over 35 years. The Suncast brand is the market share leader in hose reels, outdoor storage and snow tools. These products are sold through over 25,000 retail outlets in the United States and Canada, primarily through Big Box, Hardware, Clubs and Specialty Retail chains as well as major e-commerce providers.
To learn more about the full line of Suncast and Suncast Commercial® products, visit our websites: Suncast.com and SuncastCommercial.com.
PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire, USA, January 20, 2022 – Cyclyx International, a consortium-based plastic feedstock management company with a mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%, has announced that Dow (NYSE: DOW) has joined the Cyclyx consortium.
As a leading materials science company, Dow is at the forefront in driving the transformational change that is needed to tackle the existential threats of climate change and environmental degradation.
Dow’s membership in Cyclyx will give it access to participate in customized takeback programs and innovations including plastic waste-based circular feedstock specifications tailored to its specific product pathways – which will help Dow to advance its sustainability and circularity goals.
Mary-Jane Hogg, global director of waste strategy for Dow, will serve on the executive advisory board of Cyclyx.
“Cyclyx’s unique approach to significantly increase plastic recycling rates supports Dow’s commitment to boost plastic circularity and keep plastic out of the environment,” said Hogg.
Cyclyx redirects more difficult to recycle plastic into recycling by tapping into extensive data on the chemical composition of post-use plastics and using AI and predictive analytics to put it to use.
“Our work with Cyclyx supports Dow’s collaboration on leading technologies to enable a sustainable future with resource-efficient production of certified circular plastics – to preserve the environmental benefits of plastics, including the critical role plastics play in reducing carbon emissions,” said Hogg.
Dow’s sustainability journey began more than 30 years ago, and today the company is delivering against its 2025 Sustainability Goals, its third generation of 10-year goals, developed in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and also recently announced additional targets directed specifically at addressing climate change and plastic waste.
“We’re excited to welcome Dow to Cyclyx and Mary-Jane to the executive advisory board,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “Dow has been very progressive in its commitment to environmental sustainability. Dow’s targets on eliminating plastic waste in the environment align well with Cyclyx’s mission to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90%.”
Contacts
Kate Ringier
VP, Communications & Government Affairs
+ 41 43 883 0396
kate.ringier@agilyx.com
Eileen Zeng
EYZeng@dow.com
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock management company working with industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company, with a purpose to deliver a sustainable future for the world through its materials science expertise and collaboration with its partners. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer care. Dow operates 106 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $39 billion in 2020. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
Circular materials are the talk of the town, and with good reason. The extraction of virgin materials currently causes roughly half of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Annual waste generation is projected to increase 70% by 2050. Slowing the extraction of virgin materials and building sustainable, long-lasting products is therefore vital to relieve pressure on our planet.
As we know, the decoupling of economic growth from virgin-material resource use will require mainstream economic players to make a decisive contribution to the circular economy. This is a shift we are starting to see, as both businesses and governments begin to create the right conditions for scale.
Europe’s recent proposal for its revised Waste Shipment Regulation, which would see significant restrictions on non-hazardous waste exports, is an encouraging move to help all of us consider waste differently. The molecules within waste – specifically plastic waste – are a precious above ground resource which should be stewards of.
The other part of this puzzle is of course our ability to treat, manage and recycle this waste. And the question top of mind here is, are we making full use of our recycling capabilities to keep valuable materials in a closed-loop economy?
With about 90% of plastic unrecycled globally, current data on our recycling levels would suggest there is some way to go to reduce that number to just 10%. The good news is that the scalable technology is out there to address this.
We need to talk about plastic waste as a valuable above ground resource
To dig a little deeper into the issues around recycling our waste, we first need to complete the shift in the way we view it. Moving away from the general practice of dismissing plastic as the original sin for environmental pollution, let’s look at how we manage the existing waste on our planet to maintain its original use and value.
It is by creating a more efficient and effective waste management system that we can extract waste’s value and shift the popular perception that plastic waste is not just what we discard, it is an unexploited above ground resource.
Today’s waste management system is highly fragmented across Europe. As national rules developed in silos, conflicting interpretations and applications of waste classification have evolved, often resulting in poor separate collection.
A harmonized process for waste classification, such as the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation proposal on contamination thresholds, and effective separate collection can ultimately help us increase the quality and quantity of recycled plastics. It is a matter of collective will.
Addressing the plastics problem will require the support and participation of the entire value chain, with the ultimate goal of creating a new stream of virgin-equivalent materials for new products.
Agilyx has been at the core of the creation of a new consortium, Cyclyx, which is one example of how we can build the infrastructure to create this circular industry to recapture post-use plastics that would otherwise be lost to landfill or incineration. Through a network of partners, Cyclyx provides the missing link to bridge the gap between waste collector and recycler.
Our technology characterizes and qualifies plastic waste using proprietary algorithms and an extensive database of chemical compounds built over 17 years to aggregate and pre-process large volumes of post-use plastic, preparing it for recycling pathways.
We need incentives for front-runners developing state-of-the-art recycling technologies
Whilst still a nascent industry, advanced recycling technologies needed to convert post-use plastic back into its original form are out there. We’re starting to see major European markets make commitments to continue investing in these solutions.
France has recently pledged to invest in new recycling infrastructure and plastic-to-plastic recycling solutions and the newly formed German government has signaled it also intends to make new recycling technologies a key priority as part of their packaging law.
Whilst encouraging to see the issue of waste start to move up the political agenda, these commitments are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the funding needed to tackle the way in which waste is managed and treated.
We need the full spectrum of technological solutions to get our plastic recycling rates up to 90%. Existing recycling technologies such as chemical and mechanical recycling need to go hand in hand, there is no one size fits all solution. Each plastic has its own composition and code with different solutions that fit each type.
Agilyx has developed chemical recycling technologies in order to transform plastics previously thought to be non-recyclable into a range of new circular products. Our technology is uniquely positioned as a viable and more sustainable alternative to landfilling and incineration of difficult-to-recycle post-use plastic waste.
If we are serious about fulfilling our circular economy ambitions and creating a clear pathway to reducing pollution on the planet, we’ll need all these recycling innovations and more to transform our waste into fully circular materials.
Authored by
Tim Stedman, CEO Agilyx
Mr. Stedman has nearly 30 years of experience in the chemical industry covering plastics, elastomers and basic chemicals, such as olefins. He has held positions in operations, sales and marketing, global supply chains, business leadership as well as strategy and corporate development.
PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire, USA, December 15, 2021 – Cyclyx International, a consortium-based plastic feedstock management company with a mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%, has announced it is developing a first of its kind plastic recovery facility to process waste plastics for committed offtake associated with advanced recycling projects on the Gulf Coast, such as the Baytown, Texas project recently announced by ExxonMobil.
Engineering work has already begun on the proposed facility. The facility is expected to process up to 60,000 metric tons of recycled plastic feedstock per year with an anticipated start-up in late 2022. Cyclyx plans to develop a network of similar facilities, linked to committed offtake, to support growth in advanced recycling.
With its unique knowledge of plastic chemical characterizations, Cyclyx is designing the proposed facility to allow for processing of waste plastic feedstock customized to meet the needs of individual customer specifications. Cyclyx will source post-use mixed waste plastic for the project via a range of existing sources while continuing to expand its collaboration with companies from across the value chain to develop circular solutions for difficult-to-recycle plastic waste.
“We are excited to launch this phase of the Company’s growth strategy,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “The development of these customized plastics recovery facilities is critical in meeting the growing needs of advanced recyclers and is a big step forward toward our mission of helping increase the plastic recycling rate from 10% to 90%.”
Contacts
Kate Ringier
VP, Communications & Government Affairs
+ 41 43 883 0396
kate.ringier@agilyx.com
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock management company working with a broad set of industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
There is no silver bullet to solve the issue of plastic waste but the benefits of chemical recycling can help foster a more circular economy
Much has been said about reducing or eliminating plastic but utilizing and scaling the technology available to create a more circular economy that turns waste to value could be a better solution.
Industry will often talk about ‘closing the loop,’ but what do we really mean?
As the world’s population grows, it is inevitable that our plastic consumption will also increase. Some of the latest modelling from the International Energy Agency has said that plastic production could grow from 359 million tons in 2018 to 540 million by 2040. The challenge for us all – consumers, corporations and governments – is to ensure that this increased use of plastic does not lead to 540 million tons of plastic waste polluting our environment.
The solution is not to ban plastic outright, but to shift how we view, treat and manage plastic in our lives and supply chains. We must give it much greater value and see it not as just a throwaway commodity, but something that can be used, recycled and made into a new product. In turn this will create a circular economy by making sure that plastic which is no longer needed is collected and recycled again and again. This is closing the loop.
To solve the issue of plastic waste, we must highlight and embrace the technology that exists.
First however, we, as consumers and businesses, must accept this challenge. At present, less than 10% of the world’s plastic is recycled. A shocking 90% therefore ends up in landfill, is incinerated or worse still, pollutes our rivers, oceans and natural environment.
Despite significant advances over the years in recycling technology, participation at both consumer and corporate levels have struggled to keep pace. This is in part due to a lack of understanding about the technology, as well as the level of support and investment needed in the infrastructure.
Chemical recycling technology is already deployed around the world, saving a significant amount of waste from ending up in landfill and polluting our environment.
Chemical recycling has long been thought of as either too expensive or not scalable enough to create a fully closed loop circular system that everyone from businesses to consumers can benefit from.
At Agilyx, we’re currently on our seventh generation of chemical recycling technology and lead the industry with the first commercial-scale plastic-to-plastic recycling facility in Regenyx, our joint venture with Americas Styrenics (AmSty). With this technology we have recently passed a significant milestone having recycled more than 4,400 tons of post-use plastic. That’s the equivalent of nearly 20 Statues of Liberty since our launch!
Developed over more than a decade and a half, our technology can be easily scaled and applied to any number of chemical pathways to meet the requirements of our partners via our licensing model, so that more and more companies and consumers have access to leading recycling solutions for a variety of plastics.
This is significant because it enables us to turn some of the hardest to recycle and most contaminated post-use plastic back into its chemical building blocks, able to be transformed into high-grade applications such as food packaging or pharmaceutical products.
As proud as we are of our technology, we know we can’t do it alone. There are a number of chemical recycling and mechanical recycling technologies in existence today and it will take a combination of all of them in order to address the problem of plastic waste on a global scale. However, obtaining reliable sources of post-use plastic to be recycled is a long-standing barrier for the industry. Our joint venture, Cyclyx, is a consortium of companies working together to increase collection efforts in order to address this issue and get post-use plastic out of landfills and the environment and back into a circular economy.
If we want to truly conquer this issue, we must all work together to make it happen.
Closing the loop brings a range of benefits beyond finding a new purpose for converted plastic waste.
While many see the obvious benefits of recycling more, such as taking waste out of our environment and giving it new higher value uses, advancements and efficiencies in recycling technologies mean there are many additional benefits to creating a more circular economy.
Green investment in the industry will create new jobs and support innovation and wider improvements across the sector.
Chemical recycling also helps dramatically reduce the emissions from producing new plastic products, given the high energy levels needed to extract virgin raw materials. In fact, a recent life cycle analysis (LCA) of our depolymerization technology shows a 75% reduction in CO2-emissions over the production of ‘new’ plastic and incineration.
Companies are now having to consider their net impact on the world and face a constant battle with reducing their emissions. By increasing recycling rates or choosing to source or produce products and packaging from recycled materials, they can dramatically reduce their overall emissions.
We are all too aware of the impact plastic waste has around the world, but the solutions exist to better manage and convert it back into valuable products again. We must embrace the challenge and champion the technology. Moving to a fully circular economy is by no means easy, but if we capitalize on the progress and systems already in place, we’ll be much closer to making it a reality.
Authored by
Carsten Larsen, Chief Commercial Officer
Carsten Larsen is Chief Commercial Officer at Agilyx. An experienced commercial leader, Mr. Larsen brings more than 25 years of industrial expertise, most recently having served as commercial director, Plastics Circularity EMEA & APAC for Dow Inc.
PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire, USA, November 4, 2021 – Cyclyx International, a consortium-based plastic feedstock management company with a mission to increase the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%, has announced that Corning Incorporated, one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, has joined as the newest member. With an initial focus on creating more circular pathways for plastics in the U.S. life sciences industry, Corning’s membership in the consortium will open up opportunities for increased landfill diversion by improving the recycling rate for its products used in life sciences research, liquid handing, and bioprocessing. Christie McCarthy, Director of Sustainability for Corning Life Sciences, will represent the company on the executive advisory board.
Corning has pledged to enhance manufacturing waste strategies across its sites by 2025 and initiated a partnership in 2020 with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute to develop a formal waste management program. As a member of Cyclyx, Corning will gain access to services that include the design and execution of programs to expand collection of plastic waste from manufacturing, while also offering customers a path to recycle post-use plastics via Cyclyx’s ISCC PLUS certified process.
“By combining Cyclyx’s feedstock management technology with Corning’s extensive U.S. supply chain and knowledge of life sciences plastics, we can work together to make a circular economy for the life sciences industry a reality,” said McCarthy. “We look forward to bringing our passion for invention and innovation to the advisory board to help reimagine how post-use plastic consumables can become regenerative cradle-to-cradle products.”
“We’re excited to welcome Corning to the Cyclyx consortium,” stated Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “Corning is a brand that has been at the forefront of industry-leading innovation for more than 170 years. The company’s commitment to developing sustainable, more circular pathways for its products is admirable and, as a member company, the company will help drive our mission of increasing the recycling rate of plastic from 10% to 90%.”
Contacts
Cyclyx
Kate Ringier
VP, Communications & Government Affairs
+ 41 43 883 0396
kate.ringier@agilyx.com
Corning
Elizabeth Fryman
+ 1 978 684 2659
frymane@corning.com
About Cyclyx International, LLC.
Cyclyx International, LLC. (“Cyclyx”) is a post-use plastic feedstock management company working with industry participants to develop innovative recycling solutions for all types of post-use plastics. The company’s mission is to increase the recycling rate of plastics from 10% to 90% by using Cyclyx’s expertise in understanding the chemical composition of post-use plastic in collaboration with industry partners to create a new, innovative supply chain. Cyclyx was founded by Agilyx Corporation (“Agilyx”), a leader in advanced chemical recycling, together with ExxonMobil Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Cyclyx has been formed to be a consortium-based entity and since its founding there have been a growing number of companies joining its membership. For more information, visit us at www.cyclyx.com.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping its customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, and life sciences.