Plastics recycling startup MacroCycle, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has struck a deal with Meta to build its first commercial plant, using a novel process that strips plastic waste of contaminants, reducing carbon emissions by 80%.

The agreement allows Meta to count the avoided emissions towards its own carbon footprint, which has grown significantly due to the AI boom. Payments for environmental attribute credits will provide MacroCycle with a revenue stream to support the construction of the new plant, capable of producing 5,000 metric tons of recycled plastic per year.

MacroCycle’s process involves dissolving and purifying PET plastic, creating macrocycles that can be used to form higher-quality plastics. The use of solvents instead of heat is a major source of energy savings, which should also lower costs. The company aims to produce recycled textiles domestically at prices that compete with overseas suppliers, with future plants capable of producing 50,000 metric tons of material per year.

MacroCycle co-founder and CEO Stwart Peña Feliz told TechCrunch that the deal with Meta should make it easier to secure buyers for the material and that future plants will be capable of producing 50,000 metric tons of material per year. However, the question remains: can this alone save the planet from the growing plastic crisis?