Schneider Electric and GR3N Partner to Revolutionize Large-Scale Plastic Recycling

Breakthrough Technology: GR3N’s MADE process converts hard-to-recycle PET into virgin-quality materials, closing the loop on plastic waste.

Industrial Scalability: Schneider Electric’s automation technology facilitates the rapid and flexible scaling of GR3N’s process across multiple locations.

Next-Gen Operations: Software-defined automation cuts costs, boosts efficiency, and attracts new talent to the recycling industry.

Schneider Electric has teamed up with GR3N to revolutionize plastic recycling. GR3N’s Microwave Assisted DEpolymerization (MADE) technology deconstructs polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into its chemical building blocks, enabling the production of high-quality PET pellets and effectively addressing the recycling of challenging plastics.

In March 2024, GR3N showcased the MADE system at its Italian facility, utilizing Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Automation Expert for its open automation technology. This system separates hardware from software, providing increased operational flexibility. Fabio Silvestri, Head of Marketing and Business Development at GR3N, remarked, “Through software-defined automation and hardware independence, we have been able to effectively de-risk our operations and push the boundaries of our technology.”

Plans are underway to scale the MADE system to industrial levels, with a new facility in Spain aiming to process over 40,000 tons of PET waste annually. This modular setup simplifies operations and improves decision-making through advanced data analytics, cutting engineering costs by 30%. Christophe de Maistre, President of Energy & Chemicals at Schneider Electric, emphasized, “If we want to overcome the scale of plastic waste, there are certain non-negotiables. Integration, modularization, and automation are key.”

The partnership aims to achieve industrial scale by 2027, with a planned plant capable of processing 35-40,000 tons per year. This initiative provides a viable path for the chemical sector to meet sustainability objectives, combat plastic waste, and advance a circular economy.