Purecycle Makes Commercial Sale of PureFive PP Resin to Drake Extrusion
Recycled polypropylene will be used for creating continuous fiber.
announced the initial sale of nearly 500,000 lbs. of resin to for the production of continuous filament yarns, which could be used to make items such as rugs, upholstery and apparel. Drake is a manufacturer of colored filament yarn and staple fiber.
The agreement comes after Drake’s successful production of continuous fiber using a compound that includes PureCycle’s PureFive resin. The resin was produced in Ironton, Ohio, from 100% postconsumer recycled (PCR) feedstock and then developed into a compound by PureCycle’s Research & Development team in Durham, North Carolina.
Purecycle’s PureFive recycled PP resin product. Source: PureCycle
“We’ve been looking for a partner who can repeatedly deliver a postconsumer recycled polypropylene that can be turned into a sustainable fiber for our customers. We’ve tested PureCycle's material under various operating conditions and produced multiple types of fiber — their product significantly surpassed our expectations. These fiber packages are now with many of our customers to gauge their interest, but we see this as a strong growth opportunity for our company," says Drake CEO John Parkinson.
Polypropylene fiber is preferred for its light weight, durability, moisture and chemical resistance. Finding a reliable recycling alternative to replace virgin PP has been challenging due to the complexity of the fiber manufacturing process.
Drake and PureCycle worked through multiple trials to produce continuous filaments of varying thicknesses in order to expand the end-use applications. The thicker fiber is well suited for outdoor upholstery, while the thinner material is intended for the apparel market. The fiber was also successfully textured, which softens the material to the touch.
PureCycle’s R&D team plans to continue testing various compounds at the company’s lab to increase the amount of recycled content that can be successfully introduced for fiber applications. Work is also being done to create a compound for staple fibers which could open the door to opportunities within the carpet, automotive and other industries.
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