Schneider Electric, a pioneer in digital transformation, has partnered with GR3N, a pioneering Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) chemical recycler, to develop the first open automation system for advanced plastic recycling. This innovative collaboration aims to disrupt the status quo and create a more sustainable future.
GR3N’s Microwave Assisted DEpolymerization (MADE) process breaks down PET into its chemical building blocks, recombining them to create new PET pellets with virgin-like quality. The technology is based on alkaline hydrolysis and can manage higher impurities than existing methods.
The partnership enables GR3N to scale its operations quickly and cost-effectively, with the goal of reaching industrial scale by 2027. The open automation system, developed by Schneider Electric, is built on its EcoStruxure Automation Expert platform, which decouples hardware from software and allows for data sharing and advanced analytics across the entire plant lifecycle.
The partnership demonstrates the benefits of software-defined automation, including reduced engineering costs, simplified control systems, and increased scalability. GR3N’s Head of Marketing and Business Development, Fabio Silvestri, noted that the company’s proprietary recycling process has allowed it to effectively de-risk its operations and push the boundaries of its technology.
The global demand for plastics is expected to triple by 2060, with a significant portion ending up in landfills or oceans. The partnership between GR3N and Schneider Electric aims to play a key role in addressing this challenge.
