Braven Environmental invests in pyrolysis facility in Virginia

Braven Environmental, a Yonkers, New York-based company that derives fuel from plastic, plans to invest $31.7 million to establish a manufacturing operation in Cumberland County, Virginia. 

Braven Environmental uses pyrolysis, or chemical recycling, to break down plastic scrap with minimal emissions, according to a news release from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) on Braven’s investment. The output can create new plastics or fuel produced with lower carbon emissions than traditional oil or gas production. Braven’s new plant will minimize the amount of plastic scrap headed to landfills, oceans and waterways, VEDP says. 

“Braven’s decision to develop its next site in Virginia as part of its planned U.S. expansions was driven by the state’s pro-business and innovation economy, and the fact that Virginia sees an enormous amount of waste that is either transported long distance for processing or ends up in local landfills,” says Nick Canosa, president and CEO of Braven Environmental. “With this facility, we’re looking forward to working hand in hand with Cumberland County to address the existing plastic waste issue with proven technology, while bringing long-term jobs to the community.”

“Braven Environmental will bring well-paid job opportunities to the citizens of Cumberland County while lessening our overall environmental footprint in the years to come,” says Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. “Providing the business environment and infrastructure to attract operations of this kind to rural Virginia is critical to our efforts to generate economic growth in all corners of the Commonwealth. Our economy is hurting right now, and these new jobs will have a great impact in the region.”

VEDP reports that it worked with Cumberland County and Virginia’s Growth Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Gov. Northam approved a $150,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Cumberland County with the project. 

According to Braven Environmental, the company is focused on developing and testing pyrolysis systems to help recycle plastic scrap.  The company’s website states that it can process almost all postconsumer, postindustrial and postrecycled plastics, including plastic film.