Bridging the Polypropylene Circularity Gap
Plastinuva takes mixed plastic waste from recyclers and converts it into a high-quality, virgin-like polypropylene that is a direct replacement for new polypropylene.
Not only is our method cost-competitive and scalable, but it’s also environmentally sustainable. In fact, our process reduces the carbon footprint by about 80% compared to new polypropylene made from petroleum, offering a solution that aligns with both environmental goals and industry needs.
Of all recyclable plastics, polypropylene has one of the lowest recycling rates—less than 1%.
Here’s why achieving circularity with PP is so challenging: Polypropylene goes through a complex lifecycle. Formulators begin with virgin polypropylene, adding dyes and fillers to meet product specifications, and manufacturers then mold this modified plastic into various consumer goods. Once these products are discarded and placed in recycling bins, they enter sorting facilities.
However, sorting produces bales that are typically only 80% pure, often contaminated with other plastics, colors, and fillers. These impure bales are unsuitable for formulators needing high-quality materials to replace virgin polypropylene. This gap limits PP’s recyclability, and as a result, most polypropylene ends up in landfills or as environmental waste, representing both a sustainability issue and a missed economic opportunity.