Return Polymers
Return Polymers is a US-based PVC recycling company operating a vertically integrated Full-Circle Recycling Program that collects, processes, and reprocesses industrial PVC scrap into 100% recycled decking, siding, cladding, and trim for B2B manufacturers and construction industry partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersAshland, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Return Polymers does
Return Polymers is a US-based PVC recycling company that operates a vertically integrated Full-Circle PVC Recycling Program, collecting scrap PVC from manufacturers, material recycling facilities, and job sites, then reprocessing it into 100% recycled materials used in decking, siding, cladding, and trim. The business model is dual-revenue: a service-revenue stream for collection, cleaning, processing, and logistics support (offered via live loads and dropped trailers) and a product-sales stream for reprocessed recycled PVC sold back to downstream manufacturers. Founded around 1994–1996 and headquartered in Ashland, Ohio, the company processes over 100 million pounds of material annually through a network of owned facilities and partner collection sites extending across Ohio, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, and Oregon.
The company's core technology is its proprietary Full-Circle Recycling methodology, which combines collection logistics, material evaluation, mechanical processing, and integration into downstream building products. Processing covers Rigid PVC, Cellular PVC, CPVC, Acrylics, Kydex, Compound, and ASA, with qualified polymer recovery services for additional resins (HDPE, LDPE, ABS, Polystyrene, PET, Polycarbonate). The company is a wholly controlled affiliate of The AZEK Company Inc., a public building products manufacturer, and operates as a B2B enterprise selling to manufacturers, fabricators, and industrial operations in fencing, signage, injection molding, construction materials, and vinyl record production. Named customers include Gotta Groove Records, Bo Lacey Construction, and Trusscore; the company received the first-ever Vinyl Recycler of the Year award from the Vinyl Sustainability Council in 2020.
Go-to-market is sales-led enterprise field sales, targeting manufacturers and industrial operations that generate recurring post-industrial PVC scrap. Distribution is anchored on a five-site collection network (two owned, three partner) with logistics support. Revenue mechanics combine processing/service fees with recycled-material sales, though no public pricing is disclosed. The company is led by President and CEO David Foell, with Perry Tanner as Senior Supply Chain Manager; total headcount is 51–100 employees, including production operators, warehouse operators, and maintenance technicians. Operating geographies are entirely US, with no international footprint claimed.
Return Polymers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Return Polymers
- Legal name
- Return Polymers Inc.
- Website
- https://returnpolymers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Return Polymers is a US-based PVC recycling company operating a vertically integrated Full-Circle Recycling Program that collects, processes, and reprocesses industrial PVC scrap into 100% recycled decking, siding, cladding, and trim for B2B manufacturers and construction industry partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Return Polymers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plastic Recycling Services
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Post-Industrial Plastics Scrap Recovery & Regrind (IMANAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mechanical Recycling (Wash, Grind, Pelletize) (EUAIAKAB), Rigid Plastics Recycling (HDPE/PP, Injection/Blow Molded) (EUAIAKAF), PVC & Chlorinated Polymers (IMAEANAB), Reprocessed Resin & Recycled Polymer Compounding (PCR/PIR Compounds) (IMANAMAG)
Keywords
Where Return Polymers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ashland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Return Polymers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- PVC Material Collection and Processing Services: Collect, clean, and process primary waste PVC materials from material recycling facilities, manufacturers, and job sites. Revenue generated through service fees for collection, processing, and logistics support. Partnership-based model where Return Polymers handles the logistics and processing while partners provide scrap materials.
- Recycled Material Sales: Processed recycled PVC materials are sold back to manufacturers for use in new products like decking, siding, cladding, trim, and other construction materials. Closed-loop recycling creates value from waste streams.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Return Polymers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Return Polymers operates the Full-Circle PVC Recycling Program, collecting, cleaning, and processing post-industrial PVC scrap from manufacturers, material recycling facilities, and job sites. The company reprocesses PVC and other polymers into 100% recycled materials used to produce decking, siding, cladding, and trim for the construction industry. It also provides logistical support, ESG/sustainability reporting, and polymer recovery services for additional resin types.
Product overview
Return Polymers is a PVC recycling solutions provider offering a single integrated service called the Full-Circle PVC Recycling Program. This program encompasses scrap management and collection services, logistical support for material transportation, in-house processing of PVC materials, and responsive customer service. The company specializes in collecting and recycling Rigid PVC, Cellular PVC, CPVC, Acrylics, Kydex, Compound, and ASA materials from manufacturers, processors, and job sites. Processed materials are transformed into 100% recycled products including decking, siding, cladding, and trim. The company also offers material recovery services for additional polymer types including HDPE, LDPE, ABS, Polystyrene, and Polycarbonate for qualified partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full-Circle PVC Recycling Program End-to-end recycling service that collects, processes, and reprocesses PVC scrap materials into new decking, siding, cladding, and trim products, creating a closed-loop recycling solution for industrial partners.
- Industrial Plastic Recycling & Material Recovery Recovery of plastic materials including recurring scrap, off-spec material, obsolete inventory, purge, regrind, and post-industrial plastic waste from manufacturers and industrial operations.
- Polymer Recovery Services Evaluation and recovery of polymer materials including Rigid PVC, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, ABS, Polystyrene, Nylon, PET, Polycarbonate, TPO, TPU, and engineering-grade resins for qualified partners.
- Rigid PVC Processing Processing of Rigid PVC, Cellular PVC, CPVC, Acrylics, Kydex, Compound, and ASA in forms of pipe, siding, window, and other materials into 100% recycled materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100 million+ pounds processed annually
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Return Polymers
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Return Polymers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Return Polymers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Gotta Groove RecordscorePartnership with Gotta Groove Records in Cleveland, Ohio to recycle vinyl record production scrap. Return Polymers takes vinyl scrap from their production process and recycles it into reusable material. Gotta Groove offers customers the option to press records made from recycled vinyl in various colors.
- TrusscorecorePartnership with Trusscore to help them meet environmental goals through Return Polymers' PVC Full-Circle Recycling program. Collaborative effort to divert PVC materials from landfills back into production.
- Vinyl Sustainability CouncilcoreIndustry association membership supporting vinyl sustainability initiatives. Return Polymers actively participates in council activities and was awarded Vinyl Recycler of the Year in 2020.
- SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers)minorProfessional industry association membership supporting plastics engineering professionals and advancing sustainable practices in the industry.
- CDRA (Construction & Demolition Recycling Association)minorIndustry association membership supporting construction and demolition recycling professionals and best practices.
- RevinylizecoreIndustry organization fueling the future of PVC recycling. Return Polymers supports and participates in Revinylize initiatives to advance PVC recycling technologies and practices.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Return Polymers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KW Plastics: One of the largest post-consumer HDPE recyclers in North America, operating large-scale mechanical recycling facilities. Comparable to Return Polymers in business model, mechanical recycling technology, and B2B sales to manufacturers.
- Trex Company: Manufactures composite decking and outdoor building products primarily from recycled polyethylene and wood fiber. Directly comparable as a downstream consumer of recycled polymer feedstock, overlapping with Return Polymers' recycled-content decking and trim output.
- Envision Plastics: Specialized HDPE mechanical recycler (recycled resins for consumer goods and industrial applications). Comparable operations and market position in post-industrial/post-consumer plastic recycling.
- Avangard Innovative: Houston-based post-consumer HDPE and PP recycler serving industrial customers. Similar in scale, mechanical recycling approach, and industrial customer base to Return Polymers.
Broad incumbents
- CarbonLite: Large-scale PET bottle-to-bottle recycler producing food-grade rPET. While focused on PET rather than PVC, it is a comparable large mechanical recycler serving CPG and industrial buyers with recycled resins.
- MBA Polymers: Global recycler of mixed plastics from end-of-life durable goods (appliances, electronics, autos). Operates at greater scale and broader resin coverage than Return Polymers, representing a broader incumbent in advanced mechanical recycling.
Others
- Greenbridge (formerly Owens Corning Infrastructure Solutions): Recycler of composite materials and reinforced plastics, with downstream building products. Adjacent to Return Polymers in the recycled-content building materials value chain and a possible downstream offtake/shredded feedstock source.
Emerging players
- Brightmark: Plastics-to-fuel advanced recycling company with multiple US projects. Comparable end-customer interest in plastic waste solutions, but competing on a different technology axis that could encroach on mechanical recyclers' feedstock.
- Renewlogy: US-based advanced/chemical recycler using pyrolysis to convert mixed plastics into naphtha-like outputs. Represents the emerging competitive threat to mechanical-only recyclers like Return Polymers.
Regional players
- VinyLoop: European PVC recycler (Ferrostaal/ICOA subsidiary) operating a composite-PVC recycling plant in Italy. The closest direct PVC-specific recycler to Return Polymers, but serving EMEA rather than US markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Return Polymers social profiles
Digital presenceReturn Polymers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Return Polymers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Return Polymers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Return Polymers 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 Return Polymers
What does Return Polymers do?
Return Polymers operates the Full-Circle PVC Recycling Program, collecting, cleaning, and processing post-industrial PVC scrap from manufacturers, material recycling facilities, and job sites. The company reprocesses PVC and other polymers into 100% recycled materials used to produce decking, siding, cladding, and trim for the construction industry. It also provides logistical support, ESG/sustainability reporting, and polymer recovery services for additional resin types.
Is Return Polymers a public or private company?
Return Polymers is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Return Polymers founded?
Return Polymers was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Return Polymers based?
Return Polymers is headquartered in Ashland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Return Polymers make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. PVC Material Collection and Processing Services are the primary driver. The others are recycled Material Sales.
Who are Return Polymers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KW Plastics, Trex Company, Envision Plastics and Avangard Innovative. Broad incumbents are CarbonLite and MBA Polymers. Greenbridge (formerly Owens Corning Infrastructure Solutions) is listed as an others. Emerging players are Brightmark and Renewlogy. VinyLoop is listed as a regional player.
Does Return Polymers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Return Polymers.
What industry is Return Polymers in?
Return Polymers's product category is Plastic Recycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANAMAB, Post-Industrial Plastics Scrap Recovery & Regrind, with a secondary code of EUAIAKAB, Mechanical Recycling (Wash, Grind, Pelletize). Its NAICS code is 562920 and its SIC code is 2821.