PolyCycl and the challenge of hard-to-recycle flexible plastics

Bags, films and flexible packaging often have little value in mechanical recycling systems, especially when soiled or made from multiple materials. Indian startup PolyCycl proposes a chemical-recycling route for some of these streams.

In an interview with The Economic Times, founder Amit Tandon describes heating polyethylene- and polypropylene-rich plastics, condensing the vapours into hydrocarbon oils and purifying them as feedstock for the petrochemical industry. The company says its modular units are designed for 15 to 100 tonnes of plastic waste per day.

These are company-reported features and design capacities, not independently verified output from every installation. Making new plastic also depends on oil quality, traceability and downstream processes. Energy use, emissions, residual waste and economics need scrutiny too.

Chemical recycling may have a role for difficult fractions, but it cannot replace easier-to-sort packaging, effective collection and a reduction in unnecessary plastic use.

The cover is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of PolyCycl.

Source: The Economic Times, interview with PolyCycl, May 1, 2026.