Michelin, Pyrowave partner to recycle plastic waste

Signing the Pyrowave-Michelin agreement are: Sonia Artinian-Fredou, Michelin executive-vice president, services and solutions, high tech materials; Jocelyn Doucet co-founder and CEO of Pyrowave; and Eric Philippe Vinesse, executive vice-president, R&D, and member of the group executive committee. Photo: Pyrowave

MONTREAL —  Pyrowave and French tire maker Michelin Group are jointly industrialization plastic waste recycling technology.

The technology, developed by Montreal-based Pyrowave, makes it possible to generate recycled styrene from plastics found in packaging, insulation panels and household appliances. The recycled styrene can be used in the production of polystyrene and synthetic rubber for tires and other consumer products.

Pyrowave’s patented catalytic microwave depolymerisation (CMD) technology electrifies the chemical process using low-carbon footprint microwaves. It microwaves feedstock and carefully breaks internal links, returning them to their component molecules, or “monomers” to recreate a resin identical to the virgin resin used.

Pyrowave is focusing on tough-to-recycle No. 6 plastic or polystyrene. The hard to recycle material is found in packing peanuts, disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, and take-out food containers. The rigid form is found in yogurt cups, DVD cases and refrigerator shelves.

The company’s process uses electricity – the energy form currently providing the highest decarbonation potential.

The two companies intend to fast-track the industrialization of the Pyrowave technology fuelled by a more than $31 million investment for roll-out in international markets.

Michelin’s technical teams will work with their Pyrowave’s counterparts to develop an industrial demonstrator at a Michelin facility outside Paris, funded and operated by the tore maker, by 2023.

“The purpose is to manufacture tires made of increasingly sustainable materials and to make these technologies available to innovative recycling channels,” said Sonia Artinian-Fredou, Michelin’s executive vice-president, services and solutions, high tech materials.

Read more about the Pyrowave/Michelin collaboration and the technology featured in the November-December 2020 print issue of PLANT, mailing mid-December.