Low-Value Plastic Recycling Methods

Indian startup Ashaya has broken ground on a method for dealing with non-recyclable plastic packaging—that is, the low-value plastics that have been particularly difficult to deal with in a sustainable way. A good example of this material category is the bag that chips come in.

By employing technological and scientific innovations, Ashaya is able to convert this traditionally non-recyclable plastic packaging into granules that can be used to create sunglasses, marketed under the brand Without rSunglasses. The frames are produced through a patent-pending chemo-mechanical process that revitalizes plastic waste, providing high-quality products with properties similar to virgin plastic. As part of the business endeavor, Ashaya and Without rSunglasses empowers waste-pickers in the collection process by creating a profit-sharing model that directly benefits these marginalized workers and contributes to the education of their children.

Image Credit: Ashaya