Polymer Recycling
A Problem that Pollutes the World
Global annual production of expanded polystyrene (EPS) exceeds 15 million tons, 90 percent of which ultimately ends up in landfills. Waste EPS has no secondary market and low recycle potential so it has no redeemable value. It is a non-biodegradable pollutant that litters the globe, is the second most abundant form of beach debris and a major ocean pollutant. Consequently, governments increasingly threaten the polystyrene industry with regulatory bans.
A Planet Saving Solution
Somnio Global has developed the patented Styroclean® technology, able to recover styrene monomer from polystyrene waste using a low-cost, scalable reactor.
We produce a fully reusable styrene utilizing a chemical-free conversion process that has no toxic byproducts. The Styroclean® reactor can be installed at waste consolidation points and landfills to reduce densification and transportation costs and to harvest existing landfills.
Market Potential
The global EPS industry exceeds U.S. $13 billion in annual production, with the US’s production alone exceeding U.S. $2.5 billion. By making polystyrene fully recyclable, Styroclean® can protect the polystyrene industry and ensure its future growth. Additionally, this technology uses waste product as feedstock so aims to produce monomer more cheaply than current production methods. The American Chemical Council has estimated that total foodservice product costs in New York City doubled as a result of the banning of polystyrene. Enormous economic incentive exists for a recycling solution for polystyrene.
Value Proposition
In achieving complete de-polymerization of polystyrene, Somnio Global’s Styroclean® reactor technology:
- Is competitive with the long-term average price of styrene monomer.
- Is a simple and continuous process with no toxic residue.
- Will contribute to the reduction of global polystyrene pollution.
- Is a scalable system able to locate at waste consolidation sites.
- Will drive growth of the polystyrene industry. Polystyrene will be a fully recyclable product, negating the root cause of product bans and re-establishing the competitive advantage that EPS has, particularly in the foodservice packaging industry.
