REWRITING THE PLASTIC PARADIGM

Global plastic consumption soared to over 430 million tonnes in 2020, nearly doubling since 2000, and this upward trend was projected to continue, according to the intergovernmental group Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that only about 9 per cent of plastic waste is recycled each year. Addressing this pressing issue is Novoloop, a California-based recycling start-up co-founded by Miranda Wang. Over the past nine years, it has honed an innovative technology called Accelerated Thermal Oxidative Decomposition (ATOD). This pioneering method can break down plastic at a molecular level, transforming it into high-value materials suitable for creating various products, including footwear, clothes and electronics. The company’s technology is designed to process polyethylene, one of the most prevalent types of plastic in consumer goods. It is used to…