Description

In this episode, Francesco De Lieto and Emma Mee discuss the ongoing plastic crisis, focusing on the challenges and innovations in PVC recycling.

They are joined by Dr. Henrietta Boyd, co-founder of Halocycle (https://www.halocycle.co.uk), who explains how their technology uses microwaves to break down PVC waste into valuable chemicals. The conversation explores the environmental impact of PVC, the economic viability of recycling technologies, and the importance of supportive policies in addressing plastic waste.

Henrietta shares insights from her startup journey, the challenges of scaling up production, and her vision for the future of Halocycle and plastic recycling.

💬 Join the discussion: What do you think: plastic policies should be more aggressive at early life stages (extraction, processing, design, etc) or at later stages (recycling, reusability) ?

Drop your thoughts below in the comments!

Together, we explore:

• The Global Plastics Treaty talks have stalled, highlighting systemic failures.
• PVC is widely used but notoriously difficult to recycle.
• Halocycle uses microwaves to efficiently break down PVC waste.
• The process produces valuable chemicals like hydrochloric acid and phthalic anhydride.
• Environmental wins include reducing landfill waste and introducing circularity.
• Policy support is crucial for advancing recycling technologies.
• Economic viability is enhanced by negative raw material costs for Halocycle.
• Scaling up production is a key challenge for startups in this space.
• Hiring the right team is critical for success in startups.

Raw Green is produced and sponsored by OBE, a sustainability consultancy firm specialised in Life Cycle Assessment, research and green technologies. 

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Ciiiiao!