FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Sustainable Extricko
What is Sustainable Extricko?
Sustainable Extricko is a pioneering company focused on revolutionizing recycling in technical textiles and composites. We’ve developed a breakthrough process called Extricko, which allows previously non-recyclable materials to be fully reused, helping industries reduce their environmental impact and achieve zero waste.
Who founded Sustainable Extricko?
Sustainable Extricko was founded by two brothers, Dr. Joe Penhaul-Smith, a scientist, and Sam Penhaul, an experienced sailor. Joe brings his expertise in biotechnology and green chemistry, while Sam’s practical experience in the marine industry fuels their shared mission of sustainability. Together, they’ve developed a process that’s set to change how businesses handle waste.
What problem is Sustainable Extricko solving?
Technical textiles and composites, such as sails and ropes, are traditionally very hard to recycle, often ending up in landfills. This not only harms the environment but also creates huge amounts of waste. Sustainable Extricko aims to close the loop on recycling, making it possible to recover and reuse every component of these materials.
What is the Extricko process?
Extricko is our proprietary recycling technology. It uses advanced green chemistry and biotechnologies to break down technical textiles and composites into high-quality, reusable fibers and monomers. This closed-loop process prevents waste from being dumped in landfills and offers a sustainable solution for industries like maritime, manufacturing, and sports.
What industries can benefit from Sustainable Extricko’s solution?
While we started by addressing waste in the marine sector—focusing on sails and ropes—our solution is applicable to a wide range of industries that rely on technical textiles and composites. This includes automotive, aerospace, outdoor sports, and manufacturing. Any industry facing challenges with recycling complex materials can benefit from our technology.
How is Sustainable Extricko different from other recycling companies?
What sets Sustainable Extricko apart is our ability to recycle materials that are historically considered non-recyclable. Our Extricko process recovers all components of a material—without degradation—making it possible to completely close the recycling loop. Additionally, our process has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional recycling methods.
What are the founders' backgrounds?
Dr. Joe Penhaul-Smith, our Chief Technical Officer, has over nine years of experience in green chemistry and industrial biotechnology. His expertise lies in scaling laboratory innovations into industrial applications, and he’s worked extensively with the original developers of pressolysis, further enhancing the Extricko process.
Sam Penhaul, our Chief Operations Officer, has a deep connection to the marine industry as a professional sailor. He’s seen firsthand the environmental damage caused by waste, particularly in maritime settings, and is driven to implement real-world solutions that help protect our oceans and natural environments.
What impact has Sustainable Extricko had so far?
Even before our official launch, we’ve already made significant strides in reducing waste. Our work has prevented thousands of kilograms of technical textiles and composites from entering landfills. We’ve also received recognition for our efforts, including being named IET Start-up of the Year 2023 and a finalist for Maritime Start-up of the Year.
What’s next for Sustainable Extricko?
Our goal is to continue scaling our operations to meet the growing demand for sustainable recycling solutions. We’re expanding our services to reach more industries and are constantly innovating to improve the efficiency and impact of our processes. We’re committed to leading the industry toward a zero-waste, net-zero future.
How can businesses partner with Sustainable Extricko?
Businesses interested in reducing their environmental impact and achieving zero waste can partner with us by using our Extricko process to recycle their manufacturing waste. We’re already working with industry leaders and are excited to collaborate with more partners to make a lasting environmental impact.