High Value Materials
The core HYDRACYCLE™ process recovers raw material streams which are fed into our bolt-ons to produce high-value commodities.
These commodities are then used to produce consumer goods, which we call ‘products delivered’.
Click on the links below to find out more about our raw materials, high value commodities, and products delivered.
Unrecycled Plastic
Raw Material
Two streams of plastics are recovered:
- Rigid plastics (bottles, pots, tubs, trays etc.)
- Flexible plastics (carrier bags, food packaging etc.)
Primarily residual waste contains PET and polyolefin plastics – (Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE)).
Bolt-ons will clean and purify the plastic materials to produce plastics flakes and pellets for onward manufacturing.
Products Delivered
Fleeces are manufactured using plastic polyester fibres recovered from bottles, or base-polymers obtained from depolymerised plastics. Other potential plastic-based products include:
Rigid plastics
- Polypropylene (PP) used in packaging, compost bins, plant pots, garden furniture, buckets
- Polyethylene (PE) used in utilities pipes, crates, trays, bottles, garden furniture
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in bottles, automotive parts, sheet, strapping, clothing fibres
- Polystyrene (PS), (ABS) , Nylons, used in aggregates
Flexible plastics
- Low density polyethylene (LDPE) used in blow moulding e.g plastic bags, composite panels
- Mixed Polyolefins (PP and PE)
- Used as feedstock for chemical recycling to produce oils and waxes
- Used in the production of decking, fence posts
- Polypropylene (PP) used in packaging, clothing & industrial fibres
Paper/Card Fibre
Raw Material
Lignocellulosic fibre (high cellulose content) is recovered from paper, card, pizza boxes, coffee cups, labels etc.
Bolt-ons will dry and change the format of the fibre (e.g mould it into pellets or convert it into a light fluff) for use in manufacturing applications.
Products Delivered
The lignocellulose fibre can be used within agricultural products such as animal bedding. Other potential fibre-based products include:
- Pulp moulded products (furniture, packaging)
- Strengthening fibres in construction materials
- Recycled paper, card and containerboard
- Additives in plastic composite products
- Renewable biomass fuel
Dry Mixed Recyclables (DMR)
Raw Material
Metals, glass, plastic bottles (milk, water).
Products Delivered
Traditional dry recyclables are recovered. These resources include aluminium, ferrous metals, glass and plastic bottles (PET and HDPE), that have not been segregated for kerbside recycling, or have been rejected by recycling plants (e.g bottles squashed flat are often rejected by recycling plants).
These recovered recyclables are sent to established recycling facilities and used in the manufacture of several products:
- Aluminium is used for the the production of recycled aluminium products
- Ferrous metals are used in construction of both buildings and roadways, as well as in the production of automobiles, aircraft, and appliances
- Glass is used in the production of abrasive materials and aggregate for roads
- Rigid plastic bottles are used to produce automotive parts, sheet, strapping, clothing fibres, utilities pipes, crates, trays, bottles, garden furniture.
Biogas
Raw Material
This biomethane-rich renewable gas is obtained through the conversion of foodwaste in MSW to biogas.
Bolt-ons will be used to upgrade the biogas for biomethane-based applications.
Products Delivered
Biomethane is made through upgrading biogas to remove the carbon dioxide so that the gas contains more than 95% methane. This gas can be used as a renewable transport fuel.
Other potential biogas-based uses include:
- Renewable energy
- Hydrogen production
Platform Sugars
Raw Material
These second-generation sugars are rich in glucose.
The platform sugar bolt-on is used to convert the lignocellulosic fibre into monomeric sugars (glucose and xylose) for use in chemical and biological reactions to produce chemicals for manufacturing.
Products Delivered
The platform sugars can be used in several chemical and biological processes to produce bio-based fuels and chemicals for manufacturing.
Fiberight has been working with partners to develop the technology to convert our sugars to lactic acid, for the onward production of PLA (a bioplastic used in 3D printing).
Other potential applications for platform sugar include:
- Adhesives, resins
- Lactic acid and PLA (bioplastic)
- Ethanol
- Biobased surfactants
- Succinic acid
- Other sugar-based fermentation products
Lignin rich material
Raw Material
Lignin rich solid residue which is a by product of sugar production.
Bolt-ons will dry and change the format of the lignin-rich solid (e.g mould it into pellets, grind it to a powder) for use in manufacturing applications.
Products Delivered
A lignin-rich solid residue remains after the conversion of lignocellulosic fibre to sugar.
This biological product has many unique properties such as bacterial resistance and flame retardancy. Thus, this material can be used in bio-based products such as flame retardant insulation.
Other potential applications for the lignin-rich material include:
- Renewable biomass fuel
- Additive in adhesives, grouts
- Additive in insulation
- Additive in plastic composite products