From Carpets to Cars: Sustainable Polymer Solutions Surface

Houston-headquartered Circular Polymers by Ascend has announced the launch of Cerene, a line of recycled materials made from the company’s proprietary carpet reclaiming technology. Cerene is available as polyamide (PA) 6 and 66, PET, polypropylene, and calcium carbonate as a consistent, sustainable feedstock for many applications, including molding and compounding.

PA supplier Ascend Performance Materials is the majority owner of Circular Polymers by Ascend and itself already markets PA 66 grades incorporating up to 100% pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled content under its ReDefyne portfolio. Cerene grades will augment these current PA 66 offerings while also bringing to market recycled content PA 6, PET, and PP polymers. Circular Polymers by Ascend’s newly expanded facility in Lincoln, CA, can process some 45 million pounds (20,000 tonnes) of carpet per year, with plans to expand further.

“Customers around the globe are seeking consistent and reliable post-consumer recycled materials,” said Maria Field, business director of Circular Polymers by Ascend. “Cerene is mechanically recycled using a process that minimizes our carbon footprint and environmental impact.”

Circular Polymers by Ascend converts post-consumer carpet into fiber and pellets. The company uses a proprietary process in its California-based facilities to achieve “unparalleled efficiency in recycling,” providing a new life for virtually every component of the carpet and backing. The company has redirected 85 million pounds (38,500 tonnes) of carpet from landfills into new goods since 2018.

Industry veteran David Bender formed Circular Polymers by Ascend to supply post-consumer resin to various industries. The company also produces a high-quality feedstock for the chemical recycling industry.

Bender has owned, operated, or advised four separate reclamation companies. He was the founder and CEO of Perpetual Recycling Solutions, the leading US provider of food-grade recycled PET flake in Richmond, IN. He owned and was chief executive of Pure Tech Plastics in Farmingdale, NY, and advised on the startup of Geo-Tech Polymers in Waverly, OH, and a distressed reclaimer, Plastic Reclamation Partners, in Chicago. Prior to recycling, Bender was CEO of Havi Global Solutions, a $5 billion organization comprising three divisions focused on packaging, supply chain management, and marketing execution.