The plastic recycling market has become increasingly important in recent years as the world becomes more aware of the devastating impact of plastic waste on the environment. Dr. Vivek Tandon, the founder of REVALYU, is a visionary leader who is making a significant impact on the environment by shifting the mindset of scientists and engineers towards finding innovative ways to reuse plastic waste. His leadership is driven by the commitment to create a sustainable future for the planet, as he inspires his team to tackle this challenge with passion and edication. Vivek’s efforts serve as a shining example of the kind of leadership and innovation that is needed to create a more sustainable and environmentally conscious world. CEO Insights recently in a one on one interaction with Dr. Vivek Tandon, founder of REVALYU. Let’s hear more about his journey from the below interview snippets.
Briefly describe your professional background and experiences. What motivated you to create REVALYU and what motivates you now?
During my schooling in Africa and India, I found myself more interested in solving everyday problems than paying attention in class. It was about two decades ago that I came up with the concept of ‘Mines Above Ground’ which emphasizes the value of objects that still have significant worth after their primary use has been fulfilled. I aim to create a shift in perspective so that we move away from the concept of waste treatment and rather view waste as a valuable commodity that can be transformed into a product of equal or higher value than the virgin grade material it once was.
PET plastic bottles are one of the substances that are thought to be a large pollution, so I invested a lot of effort in researching how to recycle PET plastic bottles successfully and affordably.
Could you describe the distinctive opportunities Imperial College London provides and what you learned from the campus outside of the classroom?
I have spent most of my childhood in different parts of Africa, and attending Imperial College in central London was a remarkable experience for me. Although the streets weren’t paved with gold, there were abundant opportunities. Despite sounding like a cliche, it was genuinely amazing to be part of a diverse community with individuals from various backgrounds who came to London in search of opportunities.
REVALYU is the only company which offers a commercially sustainable chemical recycling solution capable of reverse engineering a PET plastic bottle back into ester
I succeeded in my degree program thanks to the help and guidance of my incredibly smart friends, who supported, encouraged, and mentored me throughout. This was a valuable lesson for me, as it taught me that surrounding myself with good people and listening to them carefully can help overcome challenging obstacles.
Could you tell us about the company’s recycling technology?
At present, PET is manufactured by combining two chemicals derived from crude oil distillation: terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. Both substances undergo esterification to produce a compound known as an ester, which serves as the fundamental building block for creating polyesters (mostly chains of esters) used in products such as bottles, packaging, clothing, and cling film.
Founded in 2007 as PERPETUAL GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES and now known as REVALYU, it’s the first sustainable chemical company globally, providing an ecologically sound ester(rEster) that can be used as a direct substitute for conventional oil-based esters.
How would you define REVALYU as an organization and its current position in the market?
REVALYU is a very interesting company since our success is based on working closely with local communities to solve their local plastic waste problems by collecting used bottles from as close to our processing plants as we can. Our mission has always been to solve a growing global problem and to build plants all over the world. REVALYU’s current plant recycles approximately 4-million plastic bottles a day.
Today, REVALYU is the only company which offers a commercially sustainable chemical recycling solution capable of reverse engineering a PET plastic bottle back into ester. I believe that REVALYU’s chemical recycling technologies have the potential to make a used PET plastic bottle a valuable resource, similar to how 75 percent of aluminium is produced from recycled material. This could lead to the production of more PET polyester from existing used PET polyester, shirts being made back into shirts, and bottles being made into bottles.
What market behaviour changes are you expecting in the future and what opportunities do you see within them?
Over the past century, the industrial revolution has been marked by the exploitation of raw materials, the environment, and the labor force. However, there is a growing recognition that consumerism is harming the planet and causing impoverishment. A new industrial revolution is emerging that prioritizes the creation of products with longer lifespans, dignified treatment and fair wages for employees, and a minimal impact on the environment during the manufacturing process. It is crucial for companies to take responsibility for reducing their footprint and leaving an as little trace as possible while producing their products.
What guidance would you offer the aspiring industry leaders in light of your considerable industry experience?
An individual’s challenge is an opportunity for an entrepreneur to develop a novel technology solution. Problem solving is not just about having the solution, but also about assembling a team of individuals who approach the task with open minds, enthusiasm, and a lack of ego. It is essential to maintain a focus on innovation seek out individuals who are more knowledge able than oneself, and attentively listen to their ideas.
Dr. Vivek Tandon, Founder, REVALYU
Dr. Vivek Tandon, Founder, REVALYU, has a Ph.D. from University College, London, and a BSc in Physics from Imperial College. He has published numerous papers and has several patents. In addition to a strong interest in the environment and social sustainability, Vivek has a personal passion for development and social justice in Africa. When he finds time, he is an avid squash player.
Dr. Vivek Tandon
Recycling post-consumer PET bottles into high quality sustainable PET polymer (Ester)
Using a breakthrough chemical recycling technology, revalyu has already recycled over six billion bottles. The cost-effective recycling process extracts impurities efficiently and delivers recycled PET of highest purity. The process uses 91% less energy and 67% less water than conventional polyester processes.
Customer applications have shown that the quality of recycled PET from plastic bottles is equivalent to that of virgin PET and can be used as a direct replacement. Once converted into high quality recycled PET, revalyu’s rPET chips can be used to produce any kind of sustainable PET product. Currently, it is mostly used in the textile industry for applications such as seamless knitting, weaving, denim, automotive, furniture or technical textiles.
Targeting recycling capacity of more than 2 million pounds per day by 2026
“We thank all our US customers, partners, and the Statesboro community for their support, trust, and confidence in us. Expanding our operations to the US is an important milestone for our global expansion strategy. It brings us closer to our target of recycling more than two million pounds of used PET bottles per day by 2026 and contributes to solving the plastic waste problem”, said Jan van Kisfeld, Managing Director of revalyu.
“The recycling process is unique and delivers the world’s cleanest, highest quality and most sustainable polyester products to our customers. We have commercialized a breakthrough and environmentally sustainable technology and revalyu will become the leading global brand for recycling polyester. We continue to seek strong partners globally who wish to work with us on the global roll out of this technology”, stated Dr. Vivek Tandon, Founder of revalyu.
Benjy Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of the Development Authority of Bulloch County, commented: “Our community is very excited to welcome revalyu to Statesboro-Bulloch County. revalyu has a respected reputation for their plastics recycling process and the positive effects it will have on the environment. We are very excited that our region will be the first U.S. site for their truly innovative technology.”
About revalyu Resources GmbH
revalyu Resources built and commercialized the world’s first breakthrough chemical full glycolysis recycling plant in Nashik, India. It currently employs over 300 people. Used PET bottles are first converted into sustainable monomers, then filtered to remove all impurities before being re-polymerized. The result is a very pure sustainable PET polymer (Ester) which can used to directly replace PET polymers produced from petrochemicals. At present the company sells recycled PET pellets and filament yarns to over 60 repeats customers in over 15 countries. In 2022 Heraeus Group, a global Fortune 500 technology and family-owned company from Germany acquired the major stake in revalyu Resources and is supporting the company’s expansion plans. For more information about revalyu Resources, please go to www.revalyu.com.
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