Polyester and PET recycler Loop Industries plans to expand its footprint in India with the acquisition of land slated for the development of an Infinite Loop manufacturing facility.
The 93-acre site—which is located in India’s Gujarat state—offers enough space for an initial 70,000 metric ton capacity facility for producing low-carbon recycled dimethyl terephthalate (rDMT), recycled mono-ethylene glycol (rMEG)—materials. The space also will be able to accommodate a further 100,000 metric ton expansion for Infinite Loop production once the first plant is operational. Located in a Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region, the site will have an expedited permitting process, which will allow Loop to complete the facility by the end of 2025.
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Loop said the facility will be built with sustainability in mind, powered by 80 percent clean, renewable electricity and biofuel, giving the PET resin produced at the plant a reduction of up to 80 percent in emissions compared to traditional virgin, petroleum-based PET.
Infinite Loop fibers are made with recycled polyester and PET waste through a methanolysis process that breaks down the fibers at a lower temperature to unlock their core building blocks. The resulting product is a virgin-quality recycled material that can be used for garments, textiles, packaging and other uses, and can be infinitely recycled without degradation of quality.
Last year, Loop partnered with Indian specialty polymers manufacturer Ester Industries to form a 50-50 strategic partnership called India JV. This joint venture pursued the acquisition of the $10.5 million Gujarat site as part of its mission to expand production of its low-carbon recycled material. As part of the JV, Ester also provides Loop with expertise in sourcing PET and polyester waste feedstocks in the local market.
Loop’s fiber recycling and manufacturing business has seen greater demand in recent years as the marketplace puts greater emphasis on circularity. With the greater production capability at their new facility, the Canadian company said they will be able to make sustainable materials more accessible.
This latest development comes less than a week after Loop introduced its circular polyester resin made entirely from textile waste, known as Twist. Twist generates less greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin PET production, and the company said it is the first textile-to-textile polyester resin to offer complete traceability. Like Infinite Loop, Twist also can be recycled in perpetuity.
Situated near Surat, which is known as India’s synthetic textile capital, the new facility will have access to an abundant supply of polyester textile waste feedstock. The location also provides a ready skilled labor force and access to a deep-water seaport for cost-effective exports from the facility.
“The land acquisition in Gujarat is a foundational step that positions the Infinite Loop India project for groundbreaking and construction.” said Adel Essaddam, COO at Loop Industries. “This site checks every box from an infrastructure, logistics, and feedstock availability standpoint. It sets the stage for deploying our technology efficiently and competitively, while providing the footprint needed for a planned 100,000 metric ton further capacity expansion once the initial facility is operational.”
