Tusti

Tusti B.V., operating under the umbrella of Stiphout Industries, represents a noteworthy player in the plastic recycling sector, with a specialized focus on hard-to-recycle waste streams. The company was established in 2015 through a strategic collaboration between the Eindhoven University of Technology Holding and Stiphout Industries. This partnership synergistically combined high-level technological knowledge with practical experience in plastic recycling.

The company was co-founded by Eline Stiphout and Jan Kolijn. Eline Stiphout, the CEO, hails from a family with over three decades of experience in the plastic recycling trade and brings a strong entrepreneurial drive and a keen eye for identifying value in plastic waste streams. Her journey began with trading plastic recyclates from an anti-squat property, and with the profits from this, she purchased her first machinery. This background underscores a hands-on, ground-up understanding of the industry. Jan Kolijn, the CTO, is a chemical engineer whose background includes guiding numerous SMEs in process improvement and technological problem-solving, providing the technical-scientific backbone of the company's operations.

Tusti's business model is centered on the acquisition of contaminated post-consumer plastic packaging waste, particularly greasy materials that traditional recycling facilities are unable to process. The company has developed and patented a proprietary cleaning technology that utilizes environmentally friendly, non-corrosive cleaning agents at room temperature, which significantly reduces energy consumption. This process transforms problematic waste into high-quality, clean flakes of polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The primary revenue stream is generated from the sale of these premium recycled plastics to manufacturers. Tusti serves a dual-client base: suppliers of plastic waste who are seeking a sustainable disposal solution for their contaminated materials, and buyers who require high-grade recycled plastics for their production processes. The company also actively seeks partnerships with other recyclers to foster the development of new recycling technologies.

A significant milestone in the company’s history occurred in July 2023, when LyondellBasell, a global leader in the chemical industry, acquired a 50% stake in Stiphout Industries B.V. This joint venture provides Tusti with a formidable strategic partner, likely to enhance its operational excellence and provide access to a broader market for its CirculenRecover portfolio. The facility in Montfort, the Netherlands, has a processing capacity equivalent to the annual plastic packaging waste generated by over 500,000 Dutch citizens, positioning it as a significant contributor to the circular economy in the region.

Keywords: plastic recycling, circular economy, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, sustainable technology, waste management, cleantech, post-consumer recycled plastics, contaminated plastics, environmental services, recycling technology, resource recovery, sustainable materials, green technology, industrial recycling, plastic waste solutions, LyondellBasell, Stiphout Industries, chemical engineering, recycled polymers