Chandigarh start-up unveils advanced plastic recycling tech in Bengaluru

PolyCycl, a Chandigarh-based circular economy start-up, has launched its patented plastic recycling technology in Bengaluru, offering a breakthrough in waste management. The innovation, protected by multiple international patents, enables the transformation of hard-to-recycle plastics into food-grade polymers, renewable chemicals, and sustainable fuels.

Also read: Empowering rural lives: How ‘Siri Sanstha’ is transforming village industries

The Contiflow Cracker Generation VI, developed after a decade of R&D, advances beyond traditional mechanical recycling, which typically degrades plastic quality. Instead, PolyCycl’s process chemically converts low-grade plastics, such as single-use grocery bags and food-contaminated packaging, into liquefied hydrocarbon oils. These purified chemical feedstocks can be reused by the petrochemical industry to create new, high-quality materials, enabling a plastic-to-plastic circular economy.

India’s plastic waste crisis, with over 10.2 million tonnes generated annually—40% of which comprises single-use plastics. PolyCycl’s technology efficiently processes dirty polyolefin plastics, achieving high conversion yields of 65-75% while significantly cutting fossil resource dependency and greenhouse gas emissions.

The start-up claims its technology is cost-effective, with capital costs up to 75% lower than European and U.S. alternatives and potential EBITDA exceeding 50%. As India’s EPR mandates stricter recycling regulations, PolyCycl’s innovation could play a crucial role in reshaping the country’s waste management landscape.