Novoloop’s Upcycled Plastic Nears Production

Novoloop’s Upcycled Plastic Nears Production

Plastic recycling startup Novoloop’s upcycled plastic takes a step closer to production after the company signed a deal with a major manufacturer to scale its innovative thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This move marks a major milestone for the Menlo Park-based startup. Image Credits:lzf / Getty Images The agreement helps Novoloop navigate the notorious “valley of death” that many climate tech startups face—when promising technology exists but revenue is still limited. Hardware-focused startups, like Novoloop, often struggle most in this critical phase. Under the new deal, Novoloop will supply Huide Science and Technology with a key chemical building block, or polyol, used to make TPU. What makes this material special is that it comes from post-consumer polyethylene waste , such as plastic bags—one of the hardest plastics to recycle. TPU is a versatile plastic found in products ranging from running shoes to medical devices. By turning difficult-to-recycle plastics into valuable materials,…