Swisspreneur Show
EP #436 - Samantha Anderson: Creating a Circular Economy for Plastics
Sep 11, 2024
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.
36:08
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Quick takeaways
- 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.
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