Infinity Recycling & BlueInvest: investing in plastic recycling

Pet bottles for recycling
©Torkhov/stock.adobe.com

No matter where you are, the plastic you are using will likely end up in the ocean.
Meet Infinity Recycling, a Dutch growth equity investor working with BlueInvest and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to solve the plastic problem.

Land-based sources account for 80% of marine litter and about 85% of this is plastic. Only 9% of plastics are recycled, even as the global consumption of plastic is set to double by 2050. (Source)

With the help of €50 million financing from InvestEU via the EIF, Infinity Recycling will invest in advanced recycling technologies to improve plastic waste recycling and make this profitable.

Infinity Recycling’s co-founders Jeroen Kelder and Jan Willem Muller
© Infinity Recycling

Through its Circular Plastics Fund, Infinity Recycling will help European companies to develop and scale up technologies to fully recycle plastic waste and produce new plastics with properties equivalent to those of virgin materials, unlike traditional methods which cause plastics to lose their initial properties (safety for food use, strength, or elasticity).

The Circular Plastics Fund also has a bigger and broader aim; to develop cutting-edge technologies and business models to establish a circular plastics industry. By providing capital, expertise, and access to partners, the fund helps companies scale up their solutions to convert plastic waste streams into tradeable commodities.

With no time to waste, the Fund has moved to establish its portfolio, with its initial investments ranging from €5 to €15 million per company. Notable investments include PRYME, ITERO, CLARITER, DEPOLY, IONIQA, BIOBTX and POLYSTYVERT.

Pryme was Infinity Recycling’s first portfolio company. It has started converting plastic waste into valuable products on an industrial scale this summer in the Port of Rotterdam.
© Pryme

Infinity Recycling and BlueInvest

Given the role of plastic in marine litter, synergy between Infinity Recycling and the BlueInvest was inevitable. Both parties are now working together to identify new investment opportunities within the BlueInvest project pipeline. This collaboration will be further enhanced with BlueInvest technical assistance, which will support selected projects in increasing their readiness and closing a deal.

Jeroen Kelder, one of the founders of Infinity Recycling, spoke at BlueInvest Day 2024 on the importance of a well-connected investment ecosystem to combat the plastic problem. "Our success is not only making good investments but also connecting with the right opportunities and supporting them. BlueInvest brings different stakeholders together, providing a platform to share experiences and best practices with other investors."

He continues with a promising note for start-ups and scale-ups who are continuing efforts to develop in this space, “The fight against climate change has gained significant momentum which means that there is a lot of support available for the right ideas.”

BlueInvest

BlueInvest is the EU's innovation and investment platform for the blue economy, offering business coaching, fundraising support, and networking opportunities for ocean technology companies. Interested individuals can register with the BlueInvest Community to explore programme features and opportunities or contact lu-blueinvestpwc [dot] lu (lu-blueinvest[at]pwc[dot]lu).

The InvestEU programme supports the European economy's green and digital transition, including the InvestEU Blue Economy Fund for sustainable blue economy SMEs and start-ups. It is made possible by a top-up contribution from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund matched with additional InvestEU resources and EIF/EIB own funds.