Pyrowave technology has successfully passed Michelin Group's quality tests with the first 99.8 percent pure recycled styrene monomer produced from polystyrene waste. The recycled monomer can now be integrated into industrial elastomer batches. For the first time, a finished product will incorporate fully traceable and segregated recycled styrene, where all the styrene will be physically present in the product rather than a credit-based content.
A container with approximately three tons of recycled styrene has left Montreal for the Michelin plant in France. Following years of testing, Michelin will be in a position to manufacture batches of industrial styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) products with Pyrowave recycled styrene, which would represent over 1,000 passenger car tires.
"The industry has forever been dreaming of a circular economy with recycled, traceable, and segregated content. Pyrowave now demonstrates that it is possible through its technology. This achievement confirms once and for all that we can implement a 100 percent traceable and controlled supply chain in polystyrene recycling. We can now provide recycled content to meet consumer expectations: products can now be made entirely from recycled material, without dilution or degradation. Pyrowave is defining a new standard in plastic recycling and is leading the way toward reaching environmental goals," says Jocelyn Doucet, CEO of Pyrowave.
Pyrowave has been collaborating with Michelin, who has been present at all testing stages at the Pyrowave plant. This new accomplishment will contribute to Michelin's environmental goals.
"The Pyrowave approach is designed to electrify processes using microwaves, making it possible to keep resources in the production loop of new goods while also reducing the carbon footprint. This unique technology will contribute to our goal of an all-sustainable tire in 2050, which will incorporate 100 percent recycled or renewable bio-sourced materials while contributing to our carbon neutrality roadmap", says Christophe Durand, Sustainable Materials Development Manager at Michelin. "Pyrowave technology is ahead of its time. We are not simply catching up with tomorrow, we are aiming for the day after", he added.
With governments around the world setting ambitious environmental goals, Pyrowave delivers an end-of-life solution for existing plastic products and maximizes opportunities for the polystyrene circular economy.
Pyrowave's technology
Pyrowave developed a microwave technology to return waste polystyrene plastics to their original form, i.e. styrene monomers. This high-value raw material, which is identical to virgin material, but with a 45 percent reduced carbon footprint, can then be reused in the production of items made from recycled materials and share the same applications as virgin materials used in transportation, packaging, electronics, and construction.
