UpSolv: Innovative Solutions for Recycling Contaminated Plastics

What is UpSolv’s Innovative Recycling Project?

UpSolv is tackling one of the biggest challenges in the plastics industry: making recycled plastic just as profitable as virgin plastic. Their secret? A unique technological platform combined with a scalable process designed for high-volume production of custom resin. This means their solutions can easily adapt to different types of plastics and specific needs, eliminating contaminants and retaining additives on demand to maximize value. Pretty impressive, right?

Main Benefits of UpSolv’s Technology

Here’s a quick snapshot of what makes UpSolv stand out:

• Recycles most thermoplastics, including PS, HIPS (plastic no. 6), ABS, and polyolefins like PE, PP, and PC (plastics numbers 2, 4, and 5).
• Handles highly contaminated plastic waste that usually goes unrecycled.
• Produces custom purified resins that meet the highest industry standards.
• Complies with strict regulations on contaminant removal, ensuring safe, high-quality recycled materials.
• First commercial plant in Quebec, Canada, set to recycle over 10,000 tons of contaminated polystyrene waste.
• Supports a circular economy by turning waste into valuable raw materials.

How UpSolv’s Process Works

UpSolv’s approach is pretty flexible. Their proprietary dissolution and purification technology allows them to recycle a wide range of thermoplastics. Think shampoo bottles, detergent containers, caps, small household appliances, automotive parts, electronics, and even plastic films — all thermoplastics that can be recycled through their process. The magic lies in eliminating contaminants while keeping the beneficial additives intact, which means the recycled resin can perform just like virgin plastic.

Polystyvert: A Parallel Innovation in Styrenic Plastics Recycling

On a similar note, Polystyvert, a Montreal-based clean tech company, is revolutionizing recycling for styrene-based plastics like polystyrene and ABS. Their patented dissolution recycling process tackles plastic waste that’s usually too contaminated to recycle. The result? Recycled raw materials with purity levels that can replace virgin plastics, all while slashing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%. This Canadian innovation is patented in over 20 countries and is already making waves in industries like electronics, toys, packaging, and automotive.

Recognition and Awards for UpSolv

UpSolv’s groundbreaking work hasn’t gone unnoticed. They’ve bagged some pretty prestigious awards, including:

• “National Winner Canada” at the Net-Zero-Industries Award 2024 for their polystyrene recycling project under Mission Innovation.
• Recognition at the 14th Gala EnviroLys 2023 by CETEQ in the “Innovation and Environmental Protection” category.
• The Clean50 award in 2021 for their polystyrene recycling process, noted for unmatched recovery and purity levels supporting Canada’s circular economy.

Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – through advanced recycling technology.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – by promoting circular economy principles.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water – by reducing plastic pollution.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – through better waste management and pollution reduction.

The Future of Plastic Recycling with UpSolv

UpSolv’s journey is just beginning. With their first commercial plant gearing up in Quebec and a technology platform that adapts to various plastics and contamination levels, the future looks bright. Their solutions not only help industries meet stricter environmental regulations but also push the needle toward a truly circular economy for plastics. It’s a game-changer for the environment and the economy alike — turning what was once waste into valuable, high-quality resources. And honestly, that’s the kind of innovation the planet needs right now.

What UpSolv actually does

UpSolv, formerly known as Polystyvert, is a Montreal-based plastics recycling technology company founded in 2011. It rebranded in April 2025 as it expanded its dissolution-and-purification recycling process from polystyrene alone to a broader range of thermoplastics, including PS, HIPS, ABS, PE, and PP. The company holds more than 40 patents across 17 countries and is building its first commercial plant in Montreal, targeted to begin operating in 2026 with a planned capacity of over 10,000 tonnes of contaminated polystyrene waste per year.

Where the recycling technology shows up

• Pharma packaging: recycled resin for pharmaceutical-grade plastics
• Food packaging: plastics recovery for food-contact applications
• Electronics and automotive: recycled thermoplastic feedstock for manufacturing

Proof, not just claims

UpSolv raised an initial $16M tranche of a Series B round (up to $30M total), led by Infinity Recycling with participation from SWEN Blue Ocean and Sustainable Development Technology Canada, to fund the Montreal plant’s construction.

Why this belongs on a sustainability directory

UpSolv’s dissolution-purification process targets plastics that are typically too contaminated for conventional mechanical recycling, giving it a direct line to SDG12 (responsible consumption and production) by recovering material that would otherwise go to landfill or incineration. Its claimed GHG reduction versus virgin plastic production, if it holds up once the Montreal plant is operating at scale, would also support SDG13 (climate action), though that figure currently comes from the company’s own funding announcement rather than an independently audited operating result.