
Netherlands and Chelsea, Vermont-based EcoGlobal is one of the nine companies selected for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Colorado
To be eligible for the pilot program, EcoGlobal pitched its idea to open a second production line to manufacture Ekomats in the U.S. and divert more single-use plastics from oceans and landfills.
The following is a Q&A with EcoGlobal CEO Caleb Rick about the company’s North America expansion plans:
Recycling Today (RT): What is EcoGlobal's growth story over the past few years?
Caleb Rick (CR): Since 2013, our company’s focus is North American expansion of Ekopolimer, a durable, recyclable material that extends the life of single-use plastics. Ekopolimer-based products are currently produced in Europe. We began to import and sell one of our products (Ekomats) in the U.S. and Canada last year.
RT: How are Ekomats manufactured?
CR: Most single-use plastics currently go to the landfill, yet the underlying durability and stability of LDPE
The manufacturing process is mechanical reactive-extrusion of waste LDPE plastic mixed with filler and producing a dough-like material (Ekopolimer), which is hydraulically pressed into molds.
Our standard domestic production line diverts more than 14,400 tons of mixed film and 4,000 tons of mixed glass annually.
RT: What are the expansion plans for Ekomats?
CR: Our current production expansion plan includes Vermont, Florida, Colorado, Northern California, Alberta
Sourcing and converting hard-to-process ocean plastics into transportation pallets is part of our expansion plan. Our sourcing strategy is informed through collaboration with
RT: How does the company plan to use the $5,000
CR: The
RT: What industries do the mats benefit?
CR: Customers include construction, municipalities, utilities, landscapers, well drillers, golf courses, waterfront, parks and recreation
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