EP #436 - Samantha Anderson: Creating a Circular Economy for Plastics
Sep 11, 2024
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Samantha Anderson, co-founder and CEO of DePoly, is a Canadian cleantech innovator tackling the challenge of hard-to-recycle plastics. She reveals that a staggering 90% of plastics are not recycled, leading to severe environmental issues. Samantha discusses her journey from academia to startup life, focusing on innovative recycling solutions that convert difficult plastics into high-quality materials. She also touches on the importance of partnerships and funding strategies for scaling her groundbreaking technology, all while promoting a sustainable circular economy.
DePoly's innovative recycling process addresses the critical issue that 90% of plastics produced are not currently recycled, utilizing a cost-effective method to handle contaminated materials.
The startup's dual-channel business model enables collaborations with both chemical companies and brands, fostering a versatile approach towards creating a sustainable circular economy for plastics.
Deep dives
Innovative Recycling Solutions for Hard-to-Recycle Plastics
A significant challenge in the recycling industry is that only about 9% of plastics that could be recycled actually get recycled. This includes clean plastics, like bottles and trays, which are straightforward to process, but bulkier, contaminated materials like carpets and packaging often end up in landfills or incinerators. This phenomenon accounts for the majority of plastic waste and poses a substantial threat to the environment, contributing to land and air pollution. Addressing this issue, the startup Deeppolly has developed methods to recycle these harder-to-process plastics, aiming to tackle the 90% currently being discarded.
Groundbreaking Non-Heat, Non-Pressure Chemical Recycling Technology
Deeppolly has innovated a groundbreaking chemical recycling process that does not require heat or pressure, making it easier and more cost-effective to scale production. This unique method enables the recycling of various contaminated plastics, regardless of their cleanliness or composition, including items blended with food residues or dyes. The technology not only enhances the recycling capacity but also aspires to bring the final products to market prices, ensuring that sustainability remains an economically viable option. This approach stands to significantly increase the volume of plastics recycled and reduce environmental impact.
Strategic Partnerships and Business Model Flexibility
Deeppolly's business model is built around a dual-channel approach, catering to both B2B and B2C sectors. It licenses its technology to chemical companies and manufacturers while also forming partnerships with brands to create sustainable products from its recycled materials. This flexibility allows Deeppolly to target various clients, from industrial manufacturers to fast fashion retailers, making it a versatile player in the recycling market. Such adaptability not only broadens their market reach but also exemplifies their commitment to fostering a circular economy.
Navigating Growth and Future Visions
The startup is currently focused on constructing a 500-ton-per-year showcase plant in Basel, which will serve as a blueprint for future commercial operations. With plans for expansion and further fundraising, Deeppolly aims to solidify its presence in the recycling industry and ultimately seeks to acquire other companies in its sector. This ambitious vision reflects their determination to lead the market in innovative recycling solutions. As they prepare for the next growth phase, the founders acknowledge the importance of adaptability, both in their technology and operational strategies, to meet evolving market demands.
Samantha Anderson is the co-founder and CEO at DePoly, a cleantech startup recycling hard-to-recycle plastic. She’s originally from Canada and holds a PhD in Carbon Capture and Storage from EPFL (her studies being the reason she moved to Switzerland). Sam worked as a researcher for some years before starting DePoly in 2019.
DePoly tackles a very pressing issue: out of all plastics produced, 90% are not recycled, but instead get incinerated (resulting in atmospheric pollution), or end up in the ocean (which is how we get microplastics in our food), or simply become litter (and take 500 years to decompose). Only “easy to recycle” plastic items such as bottles or clean packaging are actually recycled.
DePoly’s cutting-edge recycling process converts plastics into high-quality raw materials without compromising their quality. Not only is it energy-efficient, but it also has the remarkable ability to handle even the most challenging streams of PET plastic and textiles, including mixed, dirty post-consumer and post-industrial waste that are traditionally considered unrecyclable.