Loop Industries and Ester Industries Ltd. Announce Joint Venture Agreement to Build an Infinite Loop(TM) Manufacturing Facility in India to Produce rDMT, rMEG and Specialty Polymers From Waste Polyesters with a Significantly Lower Carbon Footprint

• Levers the existing Infinite Loop technology to target undersupplied US$28 billion market for DMT and MEG
• High projected returns based on total capital investment of approximately US$165 million, favourable industry pricing and low operating cost environment
• Construction of the facility is expected to be complete at the end of 2026 with commercial operations commencing in early 2027

MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 1, 2024 / Loop Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOOP) (the "Company" or "Loop"), a clean technology company whose mission is to accelerate a circular plastics/fiber economy by manufacturing 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") plastic and polyester fiber, today concluded an agreement with Ester Industries Ltd. ("Ester"), one of India's leading manufacturers of Polyester Films and Specialty Polymers, to form a 50/50 India joint venture ("India JV"). The purpose of the India JV is to build and operate an Infinite Loop India manufacturing facility which will produce a unique product offering of lower carbon footprint recycled dimethyl terephthalate ("rDMT"), recycled mono-ethylene glycol ("rMEG") and specialty polymers in India, using the Infinite Loop technology which offers significant advantages over traditional mechanical PET recycling.

Foto: Accesswire

Photo: Arvind Singhania, Chairman and CEO of Ester Industries Ltd. and Daniel Solomita, Founder and CEO of Loop Industries at Loop's head office in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.

Loop and Ester have a well-established working relationship, with Ester producing Loop PET for Loop's global brand customers over the last four years. The India JV leverages the complementary skill set of each partner by combining Loop's innovative technology and well-established global customer base with Ester's nearly 40 years of specialized polymer production, operational proficiency, and local expertise, including sourcing of PET plastic and Polyester fiber waste feedstocks.

The DMT and MEG specialty chemicals global market size is estimated at US$28 billion and forecasted to grow at a 3.7% CAGR through 2033. The market is experiencing a global shortage of DMT due to recent plant closures in Europe, and low-carbon DMT and MEG are in high demand, but market options are limited and costly. The Infinite Loop India facility is expected to produce 70,000 tonnes of rDMT and 23,000 tonnes of rMEG annually and Ester will toll convert the rDMT and rMEG into various grades of specialty polymers. The planned facility in India can lower carbon emissions by up to 70% compared to virgin DMT and MEG manufactured from fossil fuels¹, offering chemical companies a simple drop-in supplement and circular alternative that helps them achieve their sustainability goals.