PureCycle Technologies (PCT) The 38th Annual Roth Conference summary

Operational progress and technology development

• Ironton facility is operating at around 60% utilization, with steady production at 8,000–10,000 lbs/h and ongoing improvements planned for the next maintenance outage to boost quality and output.

• The team has grown from no industrial-scale experience to a professional staff of 80, with significant expertise in plant operations and reliability.

• Backward integration into sortation and forward integration into compounding have enhanced feed quality and product versatility.

• R&D efforts, especially at the Durham center, have been crucial in understanding and optimizing technology at both core and commercial levels.

• Learnings from Ironton are being integrated into future facility designs, setting the stage for more efficient and larger-scale plants.

Expansion and global strategy

• The Thailand facility will be wholly owned, leveraging IRPC’s project team and infrastructure, with mechanical completion targeted for end of next year and ramp-up in 2028.

• The Thailand plant is expected to have lower fixed costs, neutral variable costs, and very low CapEx per pound, supporting profitability.

• Global customers are interested in consistent product quality across regions, and the company is pursuing global supply contracts.

• Nationalization trends in Europe and Asia support the strategy of building local facilities using local waste streams.

Commercialization and regulatory environment

• Commercialization has been slower than anticipated due to regulatory hurdles and customer adoption cycles, but product quality has been proven in multiple applications.

• Regulatory changes, especially in states like California and New Jersey, are creating tailwinds by favoring physical recycling over chemical recycling.

• The company’s process is now well-recognized as physical (plastic-to-plastic) recycling, with APR certification supporting regulatory acceptance.

• Customer adoption is expected to accelerate in 2026 as brands increase R&D and adapt to new sustainability mandates.