Aduro Clean Technologies Inc., a company specializing in advanced chemical recycling, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (GF), a global leader in sustainable building solutions and provider of Uponor-branded products. This MOU aims to explore a pathway toward formal collaboration to recycle Uponor crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) production waste into valuable raw materials.

GF is a major producer of PEX pipes, widely used in energy-efficient heating and safe plumbing due to their durability, temperature resistance, and longevity. The partnership builds on GF's commitment to managing PEX production waste sustainably and cost-effectively. Aduro’s proprietary Hydrochemolytic™ Technology (HCT) is at the core of this collaboration, offering the potential to convert PEX waste into high-quality feedstock for new products with equivalent properties to their original form.

The initiative follows GF’s participation in Aduro’s Customer Engagement Program (CEP), which included a technical evaluation of HCT for recycling crosslinked polymers. Initial results demonstrated that Aduro’s technology can break down PEX into raw materials suitable for manufacturing ethylene. This success positions Aduro as a promising innovator for addressing recycling challenges in the multi-billion-dollar PEX pipe market.

Ofer Vicus, CEO of Aduro, emphasized the potential impact: “This collaboration allows us to further demonstrate the effectiveness of our Hydrochemolytic™ Technology in addressing the challenges of recycling crosslinked polymers. Our goal is to develop a commercial-scale solution for GF’s waste streams and expand our footprint in the PEX pipe market.”

Crosslinked polymers, including those in PEX pipes, are integral to industries like aerospace, automotive, and construction due to their exceptional durability and chemical resistance. However, their robust properties also make recycling a challenge. Unlike thermoplastics, crosslinked polymers do not melt under heat and typically degrade into char and fuel gas when subjected to high temperatures, making them unsuitable for reuse. Innovative technologies like Aduro’s HCT are critical for addressing these challenges and advancing sustainable lifecycle management for such materials.

Chrissie Walsh, Sustainability Manager at GF, expressed optimism about the partnership: “Our collaboration with Aduro highlights the importance of partnerships in innovating sustainable recycling solutions. We are eager to explore Aduro’s HCT as a cost-effective and sustainable option for managing our crosslinked polymer waste.”

This partnership represents a significant step toward sustainable solutions for PEX production waste, aligning with broader industry goals to advance recycling technologies and promote environmental responsibility.

Aduro Clean Technologies specializes in innovative, patented water-based technologies designed to revolutionize resource transformation. Their solutions enable the chemical recycling of waste plastics, the conversion of heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil, and the transformation of renewable oils into higher-value fuels and chemicals. At the heart of Aduro’s approach is their Hydrochemolytic™ technology, which utilizes water as a key agent in a low-temperature, cost-efficient process. This groundbreaking platform turns low-value feedstocks into valuable resources, paving the way for sustainable advancements in the 21st century.