Loop & Ester partner for sustainable polymers facility in India

Loop and Ester have a well-established working relationship, with Ester producing Loop PET for Loop's global brand customers over the last four years. The India JV leverages the complementary skill set of each partner by combining Loop's innovative technology and well-established global customer base with Ester's nearly 40 years of specialized polymer production, operational proficiency, and local expertise, including sourcing of PET plastic and Polyester fiber waste feedstocks.

The DMT and MEG specialty chemicals global market size is estimated at US$28 billion and forecasted to grow at a 3.7% CAGR through 2033. The market is experiencing a global shortage of DMT due to recent plant closures in Europe, and low-carbon DMT and MEG are in high demand, but market options are limited and costly. The Infinite Loop India facility is expected to produce 70,000 tonnes of rDMT and 23,000 tonnes of rMEG annually and Ester will toll convert the rDMT and rMEG into various grades of specialty polymers. The planned facility in India can lower carbon emissions by up to 70% compared to virgin DMT and MEG manufactured from fossil fuels1, offering chemical companies a simple drop-in supplement and circular alternative that helps them achieve their sustainability goals.

The rDMT and rMEG product offerings manufactured at the Infinite Loop India facility represent a strategic product expansion in a low-cost manufacturing environment which complements Loop's existing PET plastic and polyester fiber manufacturing business and will fuel growth by addressing the large and growing demand in the market. This expansion enables the Infinite Loop technology to reach new markets and cater to a broader range of customers across multiple industries including the electronics, automotive, textile, cosmetics and packaging industries.

The India facility will leverage the Infinite Loop technology and existing engineering package which accelerates the lead-time towards groundbreaking, slated to occur by end of this year. Feedstock sourcing for the facility, in which there is abundant supply from textile waste in India, is well advanced and the partners have engaged an external firm to source and secure the land for the facility. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with commercial operations commencing in early 2027.

The India JV offers attractive economic returns without the need for substantial sustainability-linked premium pricing. Total capital investment is estimated approximately at US$165 million.

Arvind Singhania, chairman and CEO of Ester Industries Ltd. commented "Ester and Loop have a long-standing working relationship with a deep alignment of values and shared commitment to circularity and driving sustainable change. This partnership reinforces our dedication to advancing sustainable solutions in the polymer industry and by leveraging Loop's technology alongside our decades of polymer production experience, we will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of our products, meeting the evolving needs of our customers."

Loop's founder and CEO Daniel Solomita commented "Our partnership with Ester reflects a strategic alignment built on our shared values of sustainability and innovation and combines both companies' areas of expertise. The specialty chemicals market offers a unique opportunity to expand the reach of our Infinite Loop technology beyond PET and polyester fiber and provides our customers with a sustainability linked advantage in the specialty chemicals market. Customer demand for rDMT, rMEG and specialty polymers produced using our technology is robust due to very limited viable options available in the marketplace today.

The Infinite Loop India facility represents a great opportunity for Loop to be a part of the fastest growing economy in the world and capitalizing on operating in a low-cost manufacturing environment. We see India and this partnership with Ester as a tremendous growth opportunity for future expansion.

This approach allows us to optimize returns, expand our presence in key markets, and drive sustainable growth while maximizing shareholder value."

Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)