Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) funds Toronto Cleantech Pyrowave Entrepreneurs

TORONTO, ONTARIO and EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - March 7, 2016) - The Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Hon. Navdeep Bains, today announced at an Alberta Enterprise Group Breakfast in Edmonton, Canada their commitment to $206M in funding 36 SDTC projects including $1.032M to Pyrowave Inc.

"Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is incredibly proud to support Pyrowave" said Leah Lawrence, President and CEO. "Our mission is to help Canadian cleantech entrepreneurs move their ground-breaking technologies to commercialization by bridging the funding gap between research and market entry. This commercial scale demonstration of the Pyrowave machines is the kind of technology that has the potential to generate jobs, growth and export opportunities, and to bring lasting economic, environmental and health benefits to Canadians and the world." 

"The Pyrowave technology is the first cost effective solution to address end of life of polymers. Our unique technology recovers monomers and wax that are then re-used to make new polymers and packaging", says Jocelyn Doucet, CEO of Pyrowave. "The support of SDTC is essential in completing our full scale demonstration and proving that our business model works."

Pyrowave's patented technology uses microwave heating to perform fast de-polymerization of mixed plastics with small-scale modular units capable of treating 400-1,200 tons/year on-site. The equipment converts mixed plastics with or without food contamination into predominantly oil containing valuable waxes and monomers. The products are sold to chemical companies that re-use the monomers and waxes for FDA compliant applications and therefore cost effectively closes the loop of polymers life cycle.

Pyrowave has also obtained the support of Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. and Greencentre Canada, both partners in the demonstration project.

About Pyrowave

Only 8% of plastics generated today are recycled - yet the costs to haul, store, sort and process plastics are enormous. Using patented microwave pyrolysis technology, Pyrowave will place small, modular units directly onsite at recycling facilities and at producers of plastic waste. Pyrowave's technology will enhance the rate and the range of recyclable materials, reduce logistics costs and produce higher value end products from waste plastics - products such as wax, oil and styrene monomer. Pyrowave will have a significant positive benefit environmentally and economically. Its technology will reduce waste landfilling, waste incineration and waste hauling via a net positive energy process. See www.pyrowave.com.

About Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc.

Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. (TPRI) is part of the Refining-Petrochemicals Americas Division of Total S.A., one of the largest integrated international oil and gas companies with operations in more than 130 countries worldwide. TPRI is headquartered in Houston and is a major producer of polypropylene, polystyrene, styrene, base chemicals and polyethylene in the United States. Its refinery produces transportation fuels and other petroleum-based products for the global market. The company employs more than 1,600 who work in support of manufacturing and research/development activities in Texas and Louisiana. For more information, please visit www.us.total.com

About GreenCentre Canada

GreenCentre (www.greencentrecanada.com) provides an extensive and practical range of laboratory and intellectual property services to support the development of chemistry-driven activities in Ontario. GreenCentre offers chemistry technology development, intellectual property assessment, business development, and commercial services. The company serves the research needs of academics, entrepreneurs, and established companies by adding value across the entire development chain, through two facilities in Kingston and Mississauga, Ontario. GreenCentre also launched its InnovationHouse web portal (www.gccinnovationhouse.com), helping entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry access information and collaborate on developing early-stage chemistry technologies. Twitter: @Green_Centre • Facebook: /GreenCentreCanada. Media Contact: Leah Carter, leah.carter@greencentrecanada.com

About SDTC

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) acts as a primary catalyst in building a sustainable development technology industry in Canada, funding and supporting Canadian cleantech projects across a number of sectors. SDTC invests in Canadian companies that through their innovative technologies bring positive contributions to Canada: creating quality jobs, driving economic growth, and preserving our environment. SDTC is a foundation funded by the Government of Canada. For more information, please visit www.sdtc.ca.