A recent feature in Renewable Carbon Plastics highlights the progress of TripleW, coordinator of the CIRCLE project, in industrializing the production of lactic acid from food waste. Tal Shapira, Co-Founder and CEO of TripleW, discusses the technical milestones required to transform complex organic waste – such as supermarket returns and industrial food rejects – into Circulac®, a high-purity, polymer-grade lactic acid, which can be used for a range of applications, including PLA.
By partnering with industry leaders like Sulzer Chemtech, the consortium has successfully validated the use of this waste-derived lactic acid in industrial-scale PLA polymerization, proving its performance in high-demand applications.
Beyond initial production, the project is tackling end-of-life challenges. Through collaborations with innovators like Sulapac, CIRCLE is validating the use of PLA in durable, reusable products while simultaneously developing methods to process post-consumer PLA back into high-value raw materials.
By aligning supply-side technical expertise with real-world market demand, the CIRCLE consortium is providing a blueprint for the future of sustainable chemicals. The project underscores the vital role of cross-industry collaboration in moving bio-based innovations from the laboratory to commercial maturity.
