On our radar

Abstract

Flo Materials makes endlessly recyclable plastics Shoes, carpets, and packaging are each made from several types of plastic, which makes them hard to recycle. In addition, some types of plastic start to degrade after being repeatedly recycled. The start-up Flo Materials, founded in 2021, is trying to commercialize a group of vitrimer plastics called enamine covalent adaptive networks (ECANs). These can be recycled endlessly, even if they are combined with other materials. The company, which is located in Berkeley, California, says its recycling process, based on research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , breaks down the plastic to monomers that are just as good as virgin materials. It also removes colors, contaminants, and additives. Flo CEO Kezi Cheng says that like high- performance thermosetting polymers, such as epoxy or polyurethane foam, her company’s materials are resistant to heat and chemical degradation. The bonds that make thermoset materials strong also make