DePoly, a cleantech start-up specializing in advanced recycling of PET/Polyester plastics, has commenced the construction of its Showcase Plant in Monthey.
Founded in 2020 by Dr. Samantha Anderson, Dr. Bardiya Valizadeh, and Dr. Christopher Ireland, DePoly has been at the forefront of innovative recycling solutions. Their technology, which breaks down PET plastics into virgin-grade raw monomers, enables the production of recycled PET products that match the quality of their oil-based counterparts. This process not only reduces the need for new plastic production but also addresses the challenge of recycling unsorted, untreated, and mixed post-consumer and post-industrial textile and packaging waste streams.
The construction of the Showcase Plant follows the successful operation of DePoly’s Pilot Plant, supported by Energypolis since 2021. The new plant will serve as a blueprint for scaling commercial manufacturing plants globally, catering to industries such as apparel, food, and automotive, which seek environmentally friendly recycling solutions. The facility will span approximately 1,500 square meters and create up to 30 jobs, with operations expected to begin by mid-2025.
Dr. Bardiya Valizadeh, CTO and co-founder of DePoly, commented on this milestone: “The construction of our Showcase Plant is the next milestone for DePoly. During the past 3 years, we have developed deep technological know-how and state-of-the-art processes by testing more than one hundred combinations of feedstocks allowing us to optimize and scale our processes with an unprecedented pace, while keeping our quality standards to their highest.”
Helge Huerkamp, Director of CIMO Compagnie industrielle de Monthey SA, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Thanks to its infrastructure, the site offers attractive advantages for many companies, and it was these advantages that motivated DePoly to approach the site representatives to present its expansion plans. We look forward to welcoming this company to their new building in Monthey.”
DePoly has previously gained recognition, including being selected as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2024 and raising CHF 12.3 million in a seed financing round to scale its technology. This new development marks another significant step in their mission to revolutionize plastic recycling and contribute to a sustainable future.
