POLYESTER RECYCLING IN FOCUS
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P olyester recycling is nothing exciting in and of itself. The chemistry is simply reversed: Depolymerization means the reversible reaction of the polyester production. This has been done since the 1960s. And then with CuRe Technology, a start-up in polyester recycling comes along. What does CuRe do differently, and how? We wanted to know that from Josse Kunst, Chief Commercial Officer at CuRe Technology. What is unique about the depolymerization approach of CuRe Technology? JK: It’s actually relatively easy. The traditional methods of depolymerization are very energy-intensive. The end product of classic depolymerization processes is monomers. Our goal was: to break down polyester in an energy- efficient way and as sustainably as possible. We asked ourselves: When is how much energy used and where? This is how it works: to break down polyester by 80 per cent you only need 20% of the energy. For the last 20%, you need 80% of the energy. So we stop with CuRe when 80% is degraded. And unlike traditional processes, we don’t sell intermediate products, but we process them further: we keep them at a high temperature, clean them at a high temperature and then use them to make polyester again. Our end products are not monomers, but rPET polymers that our customers use as raw materials. We produce them “fit for use” matching the requirements of the new applications the rPET will be used for. You not only save process energy, but also combine steps that, in other processes, take place separately from one another and at different locations. JK: Yes, these are the aspects that make our process more sustainable. Most of our competitors produce BHET, PTA, MEG or DMT. The monomers are sold, transported and processed into polyester again at
Fig 2: Pilot plant
Source: CuRe Technology
another location. The disadvantages are obvious: you take all of the energy from the product, cool it down and have to transport it. That makes no sense for reasons of cost and environmental protection. In addition, in this process, you cannot control what happens in the next step. In the vast majority of cases, the recycled material is mixed with virgin material. So the final polyester is only partly made of waste, by far not 100%. This is not a real breakthrough in our view of a circular economy.
and experts we also offer mechanical recycling and waste treatment know-how. We see ourselves as a consortium that provides a one-stop-shop experience for people who want to close the polyester loop. We want to start with every type of used polyester and turn it into every kind of polyester quality.
Do you have an example for us that illustrates the range?
JK: It is interesting when clothing brands contact us. They often find it complicated to organize a closed loop as you need to shred clothes, you need to know how to mill them, how to agglomerate them etc. They do not have objective data whether chemical or mechanical recycling is appropriate. Nor do they know that mechanical recycling would be possible if they changed the clothing design a little. We can help them with such questions.
Is CuRe only suitable for certain types of polyester?
JK: No, and that’s what’s refreshing about our business model. We don’t just operate our new CuRe recycling. Because we are in a consortium with recycling innovators
Josse Kunst
Can the customer choose between different processes?
We see ourselves as a consortium that provides a one-stop-shop experience for people who want to close the polyester loop.
JK: Yes exactly. Many of our market competitors only cover one step in the process with their portfolio. We try to offer the optimal solution for every incoming
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