Recycling: India’s Ester Industries’ to set up rPET facility in Gujarat; Samsara Eco opens PA66/polyester chemical recycling plant

Manufacturer of polyester films and specialty polymers Ester Industries Limited says that its joint venture with Canadian PET recycler Loop Industries, Ester Loop Infinite Technologies Private Limited (ELITe) has entered into an agreement with Seller Group for acquisition of land for the purpose of development of a chemical recycling plant at a cost of about Rs.1600 crores.

Ester adds that the agreement marks a major milestone towards the establishment of India’s first Infinite Loop plant that will recycle polyester textile waste into virgin quality PET resin for textile. The facility is planned with an initial capacity of 70,000 tonnes/year, with provisions for an additional 100,000 tonnes in the future. The company did not say when the project will be launched.

ELITe has finalised the purchase of land near Surat, Gujarat, India’s synthetic textile capital. Strategically located within the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment region (PCPIR), the site offers direct access to abundant polyester textile waste feedstock, a skilled petrochemical workforce, and a streamlined permitting process. Its proximity to a deep-water seaport will further support cost-efficient exports of PET resin.

The Infinite Loop India facility has been designed to operate on approximately 80% clean, renewable electricity and renewable biofuel. The PET resin produced is expected to deliver up to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional virgin, petroleum-based PET.

This agreement for acquisition of land lays the foundation for groundbreaking and construction activities, setting the stage for deployment of Loop’s proprietary technology in India.

Meanwhile, in other news, Australian biotech innovator, Samsara Eco, has opened its first 20,000 tonne/year plant that will increase the company’s ability to produce virgin-identical, low-carbon circular materials like recycled nylon 6,6 and polyester with broad applications across apparel, packaging and automotive, at scale.

Located in Jerrabomberra, regional Australia, the new headquarters and plant houses EosEco, Samsara Eco’s breakthrough enzymatic recycling technology. The technology uses AI-crafted enzymes to break down mixed plastics destined for landfill into recycled raw materials, ready for brands to incorporate into their next product line. The facility also houses expanded enzyme production facilities, allowing Samsara Eco to further build out its proprietary AI-powered enzyme discovery and development platform to find recycling solutions for a broader range of plastics.

“The opening of Jerrabomberra is a proud milestone for us and the broader circular economy. In just four years, we’ve scaled from bench research through to pilot, demonstration, and now our first plant. Brand demand and supportive new regulations are helping to clear the path forward. Our new facility will help brands deliver circularity with the capacity to produce the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of garments annually,” said Paul Riley, CEO/founder of Samsara Eco.

The circular materials made at Jerrabomberra will feature in upcoming product lines for global brands like lululemon, as well as pilot programs and trials with brands across textiles, automotive and packaging. The facility will also host world-first research including finding recycling solutions for the likes of spandex with The Lycra Company, and collaboration with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub, part of the Australian Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program.

Jerrabomberra provides a runway for Samsara Eco’s first nylon 6,6 commercial plant, which is being designed with engineering partner, KBR and due to open in Asia in 2028. The 20,000 tonne facility will be the first of a fleet of international commercial facilities, which will use Samsara Eco’s EosEco technology to turn waste into virgin-identical raw materials, it adds.

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