AmSty, the largest polystyrene producer in the Americas, and Agilyx, a leader in advanced recycling technology, have successfully developed a closed-loop recycling solution - from waste aggregation to the production of new material - for polystyrene.
At Regenyx, the commercial-scale joint venture facility operated by the two companies in Tigard, Oregon, collected polystyrene waste is currently being transformed back into its liquid styrene form, in a process called recycled styrene monomer production. This feedstock is subsequently processed into polystyrene resin at an AmSty polystyrene production facility, after which it will be reprocessed into polystyrene products.
The companies have now obtained ISCC PLUS certification (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) for this ‘circular recycling pathway for polystyrene recycling’, as Tim Stedman, CEO of Agilyx, described it. “We are proud of the work that has been done at the Regenyx facility to accelerate the available capacity of recycled content for producers.”
Through the ISCC PLUS certification process, recycled content can be assigned, certified, and claimed by package manufacturers. Consumers can readily identify circular products on the shelf which will help them make conscious decisions about opting for sustainable choices.
“With this achievement, we can begin moving circular recycled products from concept to reality, and directly into the hands of consumers,” said Tim Barnette, Vice President Polymers and Sustainability at AmSty.