Green Success Stories sat down with Shahar Cohen, VP of Engineering at Plastic Back, pioneers of a PVC recycling process that converts plastic waste, even the most difficult to recycle, into valuable resources, significantly reducing landfill waste and lowering the carbon footprint of plastic production. Shahar describes his journey from desalination efforts to sustainable aquaculture, to plastic waste reduction. He foresees a cleaner, healthier future with his company leading the way to a circular economy in the plastics industry. He invites industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to join in that effort.

Tell us a bit about your sustainability journey.

“My sustainability journey began with my B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Technion, which laid the foundation for my passion for environmental solutions. In the early years of my career, I worked in desalination and wastewater treatment, focusing on improving water accessibility while optimizing energy consumption. Later, I transitioned to sustainable aquaculture, where I developed resource-efficient RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) to ensure a balance between food production and environmental responsibility. Today, as VP of Engineering at Plastic Back, I lead the development of a pioneering PVC recycling process that converts plastic waste into valuable resources, significantly reducing landfill waste and lowering the carbon footprint of plastic production. My goal is to integrate cutting-edge engineering with sustainability, driving the transition toward a circular economy in the plastics industry.

Tell us a bit about the product or solution you offer.

Plastic Back has developed a unique chemical process that converts unrecyclable plastic waste to valuable oils. The company targets plastic waste streams that are unrecyclable by conventional recycling methods. Each year, over 350M tons of plastic waste are landfilled or leaked to the natural environment. These waste streams are converted by Plastic Back to oils that are upcycled by the petrochemical industry to create new plastics and other petrochemical products.

By utilizing this patented technology, Plastic Back is able to reduce landfilling on the one hand, and virgin petroleum feedstock on the other.

Share a green success story with us – how have you helped customers or other businesses in the fight against climate change?

The plastic waste crisis is well documented. Plastic Back’s unique chemical process can treat existing plastic waste streams in a more energy-efficient and economic manner. New plastic waste streams, that are currently considered ‘difficult’ or ‘untreatable’ such as PVC, mixed and contaminated can now be treated. Plastic Back offers waste handlers and brand owners an alternative to post-consumed waste landfilling and offers the petrochemical industry non-virgin feedstock for numerous petrochemical applications. The form of this value proposition is a treatment and conversion plant based on Plastic Back’s technology.

What would you do with $1 billion dollars?

With $1 billion, Plastic Back would scale to full commercial operations, processing 100,000 tons of plastic waste annually by 2030. This investment would fund large-scale recycling plants, advanced depolymerization, and AI-driven automation to maximize efficiency and recovery rates. It would also enable strategic partnerships, renewable energy integration, and regulatory collaboration to solidify Plastic Back’s position as a global leader in chemical recycling, driving the transition to a circular economy.

What do you envision your industry looking like in ten years?

In the next decade, we envision a mature chemical recycling sector that seamlessly integrates with existing manufacturing and vast energy infrastructures. While mechanical recycling remains essential, advanced depolymerization solutions will dominate the market, processing a broad range of plastics that are difficult to reuse by conventional means. Plastic Back’s PVC-focused approach will be a game-changer, unlocking the untapped potential of this challenging material.

We anticipate widespread adoption of our technologies, driving up volumes of plastic-derived oil production to meet surging demand. This oil, once refined, will serve as a versatile chemical feedstock, fueling new plastics production and other downstream applications. Within ten years, the company projects that chemical recycling will grow into a robust global network, with strategic partnerships propelling circular economies across continents

What would you like readers to take away from this article?

Plastic Back is proving that circular plastic recycling is both achievable and commercially viable. Our technology provides a cost-effective, scalable solution for even the most challenging plastics, like PVC. By turning waste into valuable feedstock, we are reducing reliance on virgin materials, lowering environmental impact, and offering a strong business case for sustainable recycling. We invite industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to join us in scaling this technology and redefining what’s possible in plastic waste management.

How should readers get in touch with you and/or your organization?

shahar@plastic-back.com

Kudos

Many thanks to Shahar Cohen and Plastic Back. Green Success Stories is happy to support and highlight your efforts! We invite you the reader to do the same.

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