Pyrowave reaches milestone in circular economy for global plastics

Following the Advanced Recycling Conference held in Cologne, Germany, Pyrowave, a plastic recycling equipment manufacturer based in Montreal, has announced it reached a milestone.   

According to a news release from Pyrowave, the company has developed microwave technology to return scrap polystyrene plastics to their original form, known as styrene monomers. This raw material, identical to virgin material, according to the company, but with a 45 percent reduced carbon footprint, can then be reused in the production of items made from recycled materials and share the same applications as virgin materials used in transportation, packaging, electronics and construction.   

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Pyrowave says each module can treat 1,200 tons of plastic annually. A typical plant with the company’s modular technology can use between 20 to 30 modules to treat between 20,000 to 30,000 tons of plastic annually.  

The company says its technology has passed quality tests from its partner, global tire manufacturer Michelin Group, and created the first 99.8-percent-pure recycled styrene monomer produced from polystyrene material. The recycled monomer can be integrated into industrial elastomer batches, meaning a finished product can incorporate fully traceable and segregated recycled styrene, where all the styrene will be physically present in the product rather than a credit-based content.  

“The industry has forever been dreaming of a circular economy with recycled, traceable and segregated content,” says Jocelyn Doucet, CEO of Pyrowave. “This achievement confirms once and for all that we can implement a 100 percent traceable and controlled supply chain in polystyrene recycling.”   

Doucet says the company can provide recycled content to meet consumer expectations and products can be made entirely from recycled material without dilution or degradation. Pyrowave adds this new accomplishment will contribute to Michelin’s environmental goals.   

“The Pyrowave approach is designed to electrify processes using microwaves, making it possible to keep resources in the production loop of new goods while also reducing the carbon footprint,” says Christophe Durand, sustainable materials development manager at Michelin. “This unique technology will contribute to our goal of an all-sustainable tire in 2050, which will incorporate 100 percent recycled or renewable bio-sourced materials while contributing to our zero-emission roadmap.”  

Pyrowave’s first plant with Michelin is set to operate by 2024. The company says it will sell equipment and licenses to its clients looking to produce low-carbon products by integrating the virgin-like recycled styrene Pyrowave’s technology enables. The product is available in North America, Europe and Asia.

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