Pyrowave
Pyrowave, founded in 2014 in Montreal, develops patented microwave depolymerization technology that recycles plastics into virgin-identical monomers. It licenses its PW6 platform and partners with industrial customers including Michelin, INEOS Styrolution, and Knauf Industries across petrochemical, tire, and cement sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pyrowave does
Pyrowave, founded in 2014 in Montreal by engineers Jocelyn Doucet and Jean-Philippe Laviolette alongside Professor Jamal Chaouki of Polytechnique Montréal, develops and commercializes patented high-powered microwave catalytic depolymerization technology for the chemical recycling of plastics. Its core PW6 platform breaks down polystyrene (plastic #6) into styrene monomer at over 95% purity, equivalent to virgin petrochemical output, while consuming 15x less energy and generating 3x fewer greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil-based production. The Microwave Process Innovation Centre in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield anchors R&D and pilot operations, with a 45,000 sq. ft. development facility opening in early 2024.
The company's product surface has expanded beyond PW6 into Nanopurification (molecular-level removal of flame retardants, metals, stabilizers, and pigments from plastic feedstock and pyrolysis oil), low-carbon cement solutions (microwave-driven limestone decarbonation and raw meal firing, developed with the University of Sherbrooke), and composite carbon fiber recovery for aerospace and wind-energy applications. The underlying microwave platform is modular and 100% electric, designed to be powered by renewable electricity and deployed at local industrial sites.
Pyrowave's revenue model combines equipment sales (PW6 units), technology licensing, and joint development agreements with industrial partners. Its flagship commercial relationship is the €20M+ joint development agreement with Michelin, alongside partnerships with Knauf Industries, INEOS Styrolution, Polymos, and ReVital Polymers. The company pursues enterprise field sales supported by active conference participation, government and institutional grants (SDTC, PRIMA Québec, NSERC, Mitacs), and venture capital from Michelin, Sofinnova Partners, Ecofuel, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Investissement Québec. Primary customer verticals are petrochemicals, tire and rubber, cement, and aerospace composites.
Pyrowave firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pyrowave
- Legal name
- Pyrowave Inc.
- Website
- https://pyrowave.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pyrowave, founded in 2014 in Montreal, develops patented microwave depolymerization technology that recycles plastics into virgin-identical monomers. It licenses its PW6 platform and partners with industrial customers including Michelin, INEOS Styrolution, and Knauf Industries across petrochemical, tire, and cement sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pyrowave industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Plastics Recycling Equipment
- NAICS
- Chemical Manufacturing (325), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemical/Advanced Recycling (Pyrolysis, Depolymerization, Solvolysis, Gasification) (EUAIAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chemical/Advanced Plastics Recycling (Depolymerization, Pyrolysis, Solvolysis) (IMANAMAD), Styrenics (Styrene Monomer, PS, EPS, ABS) (IMAEADAE)
Keywords
Where Pyrowave is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Pyrowave business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales (PW6): Pyrowave manufactures and sells PW6 equipment for recycling polystyrene (plastic #6). The modular equipment can be scaled to customer needs in local markets.
- Technology Licensing: Pyrowave licenses its technologies to customers looking for plastics recycling solutions. Provides access to patented microwave technology platform.
- Joint Development Agreements: Strategic partnerships with industrial partners like Michelin involving joint development agreements with investment exceeding €20 million for technology industrialization.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pyrowave product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pyrowave develops and commercializes a patented high-powered microwave catalytic depolymerization technology platform that electrifies the chemical recycling of plastics. The company manufactures and sells the PW6 industrial modular equipment system that breaks down polystyrene into virgin-identical styrene monomer at over 95% purity, and licenses its broader technology platform to industrial customers across petrochemical, tire, cement, and aerospace applications.
Product overview
Pyrowave offers a modular technology platform based on high-powered industrial microwave systems for chemical recycling and decarbonization of industries. The core offering includes the PW6 system for microwave depolymerization of polystyrene into virgin-identical styrene monomer, complemented by Nanopurification for molecular-level contaminant removal from plastic feedstock. The platform extends to low-carbon cement solutions and carbon fiber recovery from composite plastics. Pyrowave licenses its technologies and provides equipment to customers seeking plastics recycling solutions, while operating an innovation center for continuous platform development and new applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PW6 - Less Carbon, Better Products Industrial microwave depolymerization system that breaks down polystyrene into virgin-identical styrene monomer with high yields and unmatched purity. Uses 15 times less energy than conventional virgin production and generates 3 times less greenhouse gas emissions. The modular equipment can be scaled to customer needs in local markets for petrochemical and polymer industry customers.
- Nanopurification - Feedstock Purification and Filtration Molecular-scale purification technology that removes additives, flame retardants, metals, stabilizers, pigments, and other contaminants from plastic waste to recover virgin-quality resin. Addresses contamination challenges in plastic waste and pyrolysis oil for advanced recycling customers in petrochemical and chemical recycling industries.
- Low-Carbon Cement Solutions Sustainable cement production technology using microwave firing at different stages of production including limestone decarbonation and raw meal firing to produce zero-carbon Portland cement. Targets cement manufacturers seeking to decarbonize production processes and reduce the 8% of global GHG emissions attributable to cement production.
- Composite Plastic Solutions with Carbon Fibers Innovative recovery technology for extracting intact carbon fibers from composite plastics for reuse in aerospace, wind mill, and other high-value applications. Targets aerospace and wind energy manufacturers requiring carbon fiber materials and addressing end-of-life composite plastic management.
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy efficiency: 15x less energy compared to virgin material production
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Pyrowave
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pyrowave technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Pyrowave partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- University of SherbrookecorePartnership to apply Pyrowave's microwave platform to production of low-carbon footprint cement. Received $1.25 million in funding from PRIMA Québec, Mitacs, and NSERC. Microwave technology powered by renewable electricity to replace fossil fuels while facilitating CO2 capture from limestone decarbonation.
- MichelinflagshipJoint development agreement with Michelin to industrialize Pyrowave technology for plastic waste recycling. Investment exceeding €20 million combines Pyrowave's expertise with Michelin's industrial know-how for fast-track industrialization and certification with commercial roll-out in international markets. Successfully produced finished products incorporating 100% recycled styrene.
- Polytechnique MontréalcoreReceived $173,000 in NSERC funding for research project to electrify chemical processes. Collaboration includes experimental tests and model development at Polytechnique laboratory with validation on industrial scale using PW6 microwave reactor. Pyrowave also contributes $100,000 financially and $124,000 in kind.
- MRC Vaudreuil SoulangesminorPartnership with Polymos to give infinite lifecycle to polystyrene foam and containers from residents of Vaudreuil Soulanges region. Residents can bring #6 plastic and styrofoam items to ecocentres for processing.
- MRC de Beauharnois-SalaberryminorCRM home to Pyrowave's pilot plant and Microwave Process Innovation Centre. Partnership enables testing and development of modular technological platform.
- ReVital PolymersminorStrategic partnership announced at G7 Ministerial Meeting to recycle polystyrene packaging from curbside, depot, restaurants, offices, schools and universities.
- INEOS StyrolutionminorPartnership to launch closed-loop North American polystyrene recycling consortium. INEOS Styrolution recognized as leading technology provider for making styrenics among the most circular polymers in industry.
- Knauf IndustriesminorPartnership with Michelin to produce finished plastic products incorporating 100% recycled styrene generated through Pyrowave technology.
- PolymosminorManufacturing partner for waste collection in Vaudreuil Soulanges region. Processes polystyrene foam and containers collected from residents.
- PS25 ConsortiumminorFrance-based consortium creating chemical recycling industry for PS packaging in France. Pyrowave collaborates with Michelin to establish new industry with financing from French food industry actors.
- Chemical Recycling EuropeminorMembership in Chemical Recycling Europe to expand presence in Europe and engage with industry stakeholders.
- CRIAQ (Consortium de Recherche et d'Innovation en Aérospatial)minorJoined CRIAQ to extend application of microwave technology to aerospace sector and composite material processing.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pyrowave competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eastman: Global specialty chemicals company operating Eastman Chemical Recycling (methanolysis-based polyester renewal) for hard-to-recycle plastics. Direct competitor in chemical/advanced plastics recycling with large-scale commercial deployments and brand-owner offtake agreements.
- Gr3n: Microwave-assisted chemical recycling company focused on PET depolymerization. Closest technology analogue to Pyrowave's microwave depolymerization platform, with overlapping customer base in brand-owner and resin-producer markets.
- Agilyx: Chemical recycling company specializing in polystyrene depolymerization back to styrene monomer. Direct head-to-head competitor to Pyrowave in the polystyrene-to-styrene recycling pathway that anchors Pyrowave's PW6 offering.
- Plastic Energy: Chemical recycling company using pyrolysis to convert end-of-life plastics into oils for new plastic production. Competes with Pyrowave in the advanced recycling category serving petrochemical and brand-owner customers, though using a different process route.
- Mura Technology: Hydrothermal plastics recycling company building commercial-scale plants with major petrochemical partners (including Dow). Direct competitor for petrochemical and brand-owner chemical recycling offtake agreements.
- Carbios: Industrial biotech company using enzymatic depolymerization to recycle PET and, more recently, polystyrene back to monomers. Closely comparable as a depolymerization-to-monomer recycling platform competing for similar licensing customers.
- GreenMantra Technologies: Chemical recycling company converting waste plastics (especially polystyrene) into specialty waxes and other value-added chemicals. Competes in advanced/chemical recycling with overlapping polymer-feedstock focus.
Emerging players
- Resynergi: Microwave-based chemical recycling startup focused on converting mixed plastics back to monomers. Uses a closely related microwave-catalytic process, positioning it as a near-term technology analogue and potential competitor in the broader plastics recycling market.
- Ioniqa: Dutch chemical recycling company using magnetic smart depolymerization technology to recycle PET into virgin-grade monomers. Comparable as a depolymerization-to-monomer recycling platform with European industrial partnerships.
- Loop Industries: Chemical recycling company using a depolymerization process to break down PET and polyester into monomers for virgin-quality resin. Comparable depolymerization-to-monomer platform competing for similar brand-owner and resin-producer customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pyrowave social profiles
Digital presencePyrowave financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pyrowave leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Pyrowave funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds14 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pyrowave M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pyrowave
What does Pyrowave do?
Pyrowave develops and commercializes a patented high-powered microwave catalytic depolymerization technology platform that electrifies the chemical recycling of plastics. The company manufactures and sells the PW6 industrial modular equipment system that breaks down polystyrene into virgin-identical styrene monomer at over 95% purity, and licenses its broader technology platform to industrial customers across petrochemical, tire, cement, and aerospace applications.
Is Pyrowave a public or private company?
Pyrowave is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Pyrowave founded?
Pyrowave was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pyrowave based?
Pyrowave is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Pyrowave make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales (PW6) is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and joint Development Agreements.
Who are Pyrowave's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eastman, Gr3n, Agilyx, Plastic Energy, Mura Technology, Carbios and GreenMantra Technologies. Emerging players are Resynergi, Ioniqa and Loop Industries.
Does Pyrowave have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pyrowave.
What industry is Pyrowave in?
Pyrowave's product category is Industrial Plastics Recycling Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAKAC, Chemical/Advanced Recycling (Pyrolysis, Depolymerization, Solvolysis, Gasification), with a secondary code of IMANAMAD, Chemical/Advanced Plastics Recycling (Depolymerization, Pyrolysis, Solvolysis). Its NAICS code is 325 and its SIC code is 2821.