Canadian chemical recycling startup Aduro Clean Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AstroTurf to evaluate the use of Aduro’s technology on end-of-life synthetic turf.
The companies plan to assess how Aduro’s hydrochemolytic process can recover PE and PP to create circular feedstock for making new chemicals including plastics, with particular emphasis on the technical and financial requirements.
Synthetic turf is highly engineered for durability and performance, with a complex composition of multiple plastics, thermoset adhesives and inorganic materials that hinders mechanical recycling. The valuable PE and PP components including grass blades, thatch and backing layers often are embedded in a cured polyurethane backing or adhesives, along with sand, rubber and other contaminants, Aduro said in a statement.
The two companies will explore preparing the PE/PP fraction for use as feedstock, focusing on field recovery and disassembly of the turf, separation of non-target materials, and potential management of side streams, Aduro said.
Robert Mitchell, vice president of development and strategy at AstroTurf, said in a statement, “This is an evaluation stage, but it is an important one as customers, communities and regulators continue to look for more complete solutions for synthetic turf systems.”
AstroTurf previously joined the Cyclyx consortium along with other brand owners including PepsiCo, to advance sustainability initiatives. The Aduro statement said the MOU “provides an additional route for evaluating how advanced chemical recycling may complement existing mechanical recycling, take-back and material recovery approaches.”
“This collaboration with AstroTurf allows Aduro to work directly with a recognized name in synthetic turf to better understand the full end-of-life challenge,” said Ofer Vicus, Aduro CEO. “Our prior testing showed that the polyethylene and polypropylene components of post-use turf can be converted using HCT, but the broader opportunity depends on understanding how those materials are recovered, prepared, and delivered into the process. Working with AstroTurf gives us an opportunity to connect our chemistry with real-world product knowledge, field recovery considerations, and the practical requirements needed to evaluate a more complete recycling pathway.”
Aduro started up its pilot plant in London, Ontario, earlier this year, and selected the Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands, for its first commercial-scale facility.
