Loop Industries Activates Generation II Technology

Loop Industries, Inc. has successfully activated the next generation of its waste PET and polyester fiber upcycling technology, which allows for the continuous production of Loop PET products.

"Our Generation II technology is a major step forward in sustainable plastic," said Daniel Solomita, CEO and founder of Loop Industries, in a statement. "It further reinforces our confidence that upcycling waste PET and polyester fiber will be cost effective, scalable and very efficient on a commercial scale, which means we can help divert even more waste plastic from landfill and help prevent it from ending up in our rivers and oceans."

Loop's Generation II technology is significantly more streamlined and efficient than the Generation I process because of its considerable reduction in energy use and the complete elimination of water. The most significant change introduced in the Generation II technology is Loop's decision to produce a monomer from which it makes Loop PET resin and polyester fiber from terephthalic acid (PTA) to dimethyl terephthalate (DMT).

"Producing DMT during depolymerization allows us to streamline our technology and eliminate even more resources, time and cost needed to yield PET monomers of the highest purity," said Solomita in a statement.

Loop's short-term priority will be large-scale commercialization of this Generation II technology to respond to the demands of brand owners who have committed to ambitious sustainability targets, which can now be achieved through the use of Loop PET and polyester resin.