About Avani
Avani Enterprizes is an Ohio-based business developing sustainable technologies for recycling polypropylene waste into a pure, high-value flake. Our mission is to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future by efficiently recycling polypropylene materials.
We are committed to reducing environmental impact, promoting responsible consumption, and fostering a circular economy through innovation and collaboration. Our vision is to be a leading force in PP recycling, driving positive change in the industry. We aim to divert millions of tons of PP waste from landfills, setting new standards for resource efficiency and environmental stewardship.
At Avani, we DEFY the Limits of Polypropylene Recycling
What is Polypropylene (PP)?
Uses
PP is a versatile plastic widely used in everyday life for its strength, flexibility, and durability. Since the 1950s, it has become essential in industries ranging from packaging to healthcare. You’ll find PP in many common items, such as food containers, automotive parts, medical devices, and carpets.
Impact
PP is valued for its strength, lightweight nature, and resistance to chemicals and moisture. However, these same benefits also lead to environmental challenges. Due to its durability, polypropylene waste does not break down easily, persisting in landfills and oceans for hundreds of years.
The Problem - PP Circularity Gap
Of all recyclable plastics, polypropylene has one of the lowest recycling rates—less than 1%.
Here’s why achieving circularity with PP is so challenging: Polypropylene goes through a complex lifecycle. Formulators begin with virgin polypropylene, adding dyes and fillers to meet product specifications, and manufacturers then mold this modified plastic into various consumer goods. Once these products are discarded and placed in recycling bins, they enter sorting facilities.
However, sorting produces bales that are typically only 80% pure, often contaminated with other plastics, colors, and fillers. These impure bales are unsuitable for formulators needing high-quality materials to replace virgin polypropylene. This gap limits PP’s recyclability, and as a result, most polypropylene ends up in landfills or as environmental waste, representing both a sustainability issue and a missed economic opportunity.
Avani Fills the PP Circularity Gap
The Avani Solution
The Avani technology can take mixed plastic waste from recyclers and convert it into a high-quality, virgin-like polypropylene that is a direct replacement for new polypropylene.
Not only is our method cost-competitive and scalable, but it’s also environmentally sustainable. In fact, our process reduces the carbon footprint by about 80% compared to new polypropylene made from petroleum, offering a solution that aligns with both environmental goals and industry needs.
High-Purity Recycled Polypropylene From Post-Consumer Waste
How it Works
Avani utilizes a proprietary solvent-antisolvent process to selectively dissolve polypropylene (PP) from mixed plastic waste. Once fully dissolved, an antisolvent—chosen specifically for its inability to dissolve polypropylene—is introduced, causing the PP to precipitate out of the solution, effectively separating it from colors, fillers, and other additives. At the end of the process, both the solvent and antisolvent are recovered for reuse, supporting sustainability by minimizing waste. This controlled recovery of high-purity PP operates at ambient pressure, keeping the process simple and reducing equipment costs.
We have successfully applied this method to a variety of real-world waste streams, including automotive waste and multilayer packaging, and have verified the recovery of pure, virgin-like polypropylene. This demonstrates the versatility and effectiveness of our approach in addressing complex waste streams.
Low cost, biodegradable, and sustainably sourced solvent for selective PP dissolution
Our Team
Our team balances technical and business expertise. Sridhar, a Ph.D. chemical engineer and faculty member at the University of Toledo handles technical aspects. Sridhar is the co-inventor of the technology now licensed to Avani. Mark, a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience, provides guidance for the business side. Mark has built and sold multiple successful startups, bringing invaluable experience in scaling and guiding our business strategy.
Strong Technical and Business Leadership
Our Partnerships
Avani has formed key partnerships with organizations dedicated to advancing innovation and commercialization. Collaborations with MAGNET and the UToledo Incubator have provided invaluable technical support and business development assistance, helping to refine our pilot plant design and shape Avani’s commercialization strategy. Additionally, the Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation and Startup Fund (TVSF) program of the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) is funding our pilot plant through a grant, making ODOD a valued partner in our journey to transform polypropylene recycling.
Committed Partnerships for Transformative Impact
Our Achievements
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January 2024: Avani is Awarded a TVSF Grant
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Our innovative work in the polypropylene recycling technology has been recognized with a Technology Validation and Startup Fund (TVSF) grant for $200,000. Find out more here.
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March 2024: Featured in UToledo News
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The University of Toledo highlighted our advancements in sustainable materials. Check out the article here.
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November 2024: Avani Wins the Tech419 Pitch Competition
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We are excited to announce that Avani Enterprizes won the prestigious Tech419 pitch competition, securing $10,000 in business funding. See our pitch video and prize announcement.
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