In a significant leap towards a sustainable future, Intecsa Industrial has revealed its groundbreaking “MADE” PET recycling plant, promising to revolutionize the recycling industry. This cutting-edge facility reflects Intecsa’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of deep technical and operational expertise in industrial plants, propelling the world towards a circular economy.
Ernesto De La Serna, the Director of New Developments and Innovation at Intecsa Industrial, expressed his excitement about the plant’s potential, stating, “gr3n reflects our focus on accelerating the implementation of Intecsa’s deep technical and operational expertise in industrial plants. At Intecsa, we are convinced that this will be a game changer.”
The MADE plant’s core mission is to break down Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into its main components, known as monomers. These monomers can then be re-polymerized endlessly, enabling the creation of brand new virgin PET or other polymers. The breakthrough technology not only presents a solution to the mounting PET waste problem but also offers a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-derived feedstock materials.
The scale of the MADE PET recycling plant is nothing short of extraordinary. It possesses the capability to process both post-industrial and post-consumer PET waste, including hard-to-recycle materials, resulting in the production of approximately 40,000 tons of virgin PET chips from recycled monomers. This process is projected to save nearly 2 million tons of CO2 during the plant’s operating lifespan, making it a crucial contributor to combatting climate change.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the MADE plant is its versatility. The post-consumer and post-industrial polyesters it can handle include bottles of various types (coloured, colourless, transparent, opaque) and textiles made from 100% polyester or mixtures of other materials such as PU, cotton, polyether, polyurea, etc. with up to 30% presence in the raw textile.
By utilizing the recycled monomers to produce new bottles, trays, and garments, the MADE plant ensures that the final products possess the same functionality as those derived from traditional methods. This groundbreaking achievement means that gr3n can potentially achieve bottle-to-textile, textile-to-textile, or even textile-to-bottle recycling, effectively shifting the current linear system to a circular one.
The unveiling of the world’s first industrial-scale MADE PET recycling plant represents a pivotal moment in the fight against plastic waste and environmental degradation. Intecsa Industrial’s commitment to sustainability and innovation sets an inspiring example for industries worldwide, demonstrating that groundbreaking solutions can be both environmentally friendly and economically viable.
As the MADE plant sets a new standard for PET recycling, it beckons us to rethink waste management and embrace circularity as the foundation of a greener, more sustainable future. With initiatives like this, the world moves one step closer to preserving its natural resources and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
“The MADE plant stands as a testament to human ingenuity and determination to tackle the global waste crisis head-on. It marks a turning point in the way we approach recycling, and it is an honor for us to witness this remarkable step towards a more sustainable world.” – Ernesto De La Serna, Director of New Developments and Innovation at Intecsa Industrial.