Circular Polymers
Circular Polymers is a post-consumer carpet recycling company that uses Broadview Group's rotary impact separator technology to produce recycled Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6, PET, Polypropylene, and Calcium Carbonate feedstocks for automotive, chemical recycling, and industrial manufacturers in North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersWilmette, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Circular Polymers does
Circular Polymers is a post-consumer carpet recycling company founded in 2018 by industry veterans David Bender (CEO) and Nick Fiore (President). The company operates a processing facility in Lincoln, California with corporate offices in Houston, Texas, and currently processes up to 45 million pounds of carpet per year, having redirected 85 million pounds from landfills since inception. Its core technology is the Broadview Group International rotary impact separator, for which the company holds exclusive North American rights; this system separates shredded post-consumer carpet into face fiber, backing, and calcium carbonate components, enabling multi-polymer output. The Herbold densification pellet system allows the company to ship both fiber and pellet forms.
The company produces four main recycled polymer product lines — Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6, PET, and Polypropylene — plus recycled calcium carbonate, marketed under the Cerene sub-brand as certified post-consumer recycled materials. It serves automotive manufacturers (Bentley uses its calcium carbonate in running-line carpet backing), chemical recyclers (PureCycle Technologies is an offtake partner), industrial manufacturers across injection molding, compounding, composites, construction, and arena surfaces, and California flooring businesses via a container-based carpet pickup service. Its primary downstream channel is parent company Ascend Performance Materials, which acquired a majority stake in November 2022 and feeds Circular Polymers' output into the ReDefyne sustainable polyamide line for automotive and EV applications.
Revenue is generated predominantly through B2B sales of recycled polymer feedstocks and compounds (hardware sales model) to manufacturers and chemical recyclers, plus a smaller inbound service revenue stream from the California container collection program. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales executed via direct outreach, industry conferences (Plastics Recycling Conference, Compounding World Expo), and co-exhibition with Ascend Performance Materials. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the collection service uses multi-year container-based contracts. The customer base is concentrated, with Bentley, PureCycle, and the captive ReDefyne/Ascend channel representing the primary disclosed offtake, indicating meaningful dependency on a small number of enterprise accounts.
Circular Polymers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Circular Polymers
- Legal name
- Circular Polymers
- Website
- https://circularpolymers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Circular Polymers is a post-consumer carpet recycling company that uses Broadview Group's rotary impact separator technology to produce recycled Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6, PET, Polypropylene, and Calcium Carbonate feedstocks for automotive, chemical recycling, and industrial manufacturers in North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Circular Polymers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled Polymer Materials
- NAICS
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mechanical Recycling (Wash, Grind, Pelletize) (EUAIAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Reprocessed Resin & Recycled Polymer Compounding (PCR/PIR Compounds) (IMANAMAG), Recycled & Reprocessed Polymer Resin Manufacturing (rPET, rPP, rPE; PCR/PIR resins) (IMANAAAH), Recycled Plastic Compounds (PCR/PIR) (IMANABAE)
Keywords
Where Circular Polymers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilmette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Circular Polymers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Recycled Polymer Feedstock Sales: Sale of recycled nylon 6,6, nylon 6, PET, and polypropylene fibers and pellets to manufacturers for use in automotive, furniture, injection molding, compounding, composites, cold chain, arena surfaces, and construction applications
- Chemical Recycling Feedstock Supply: Supply of polymer feedstocks ideal for chemical recycling technologies, which break down plastics into monomers for reassembly into new polymers
- Calcium Carbonate Sales: Sale of calcium carbonate extracted from carpet recycling for use in various applications
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Container-based carpet recycling service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Circular Polymers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Circular Polymers transforms post-consumer discarded carpet into polymer raw materials, producing recycled Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6, PET, and Polypropylene available in standard fiber, densified pellets, and melt filtered pellets, along with recycled Calcium Carbonate. The Lincoln, California facility processes up to 45 million pounds of carpet per year, and the company offers a California carpet collection service that supplies feedstock into its recycling operation.
Product overview
Circular Polymers operates a carpet recycling platform that transforms post-consumer discarded carpet into new polymer raw materials. The company produces four main recycled polymer products—Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6, PET, and Polypropylene—available in fiber and pellet forms, along with Calcium Carbonate. Feedstocks are supplied to parent company Ascend Performance Materials for their ReDefyne sustainable polyamide compounds, and Cerene certified post-consumer recycled polymers. The company offers a carpet recycling container pickup service across California with three container sizes. The proprietary Broadview Group rotary impact separator technology efficiently separates shredded post-consumer carpet into face fiber, backing, and calcium carbonate components.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cerene: A line of recycled polymers and materials including nylon 6,6, nylon 6, PET and PP certified post-consumer recycled polymers and materials.
Products and services
- Nylon 6,6 Post-consumer recycled Nylon 6,6 sold as standard fiber (with 12% polypropylene and 5% calcium carbonate), densified pellets, and melt filtered pellets, used by manufacturers in furniture, automotive, and engineered resin applications.
- Nylon 6 Post-consumer recycled Nylon 6 sold as standard fiber (with 12% Polypropylene and 5% Calcium Carbonate), densified pellets, and melt filtered pellets, used in automotive and engineered resin applications.
- PET Post-consumer recycled PET sold in standard fiber (with 12% Polypropylene and 5% Calcium Carbonate), densified pellets, and melt filtered pellets for use in industrial and consumer applications.
- Polypropylene Post-consumer Polypropylene sold in multiple grades (100% PP, 95% PP and 5% Nylon, 95% PP and 5% PET) with 5% Calcium Carbonate, available as standard fiber, homogeneous fiber, densified pellets, and melt filtered pellets.
- Calcium Carbonate Recycled calcium carbonate (CaCO3) derived from post-consumer carpet, sold in A Grade, B Grade, and Mixed Grades for use in multiple industrial applications.
- Cerene Certified post-consumer recycled polymers and materials line including nylon 6,6, nylon 6, PET, and PP, launched in 2023.
- ReDefyne (related product line by parent company) Sustainable polyamides produced by parent company Ascend Performance Materials with up to 100% pre- and post-consumer recycled polyamide 66 or 6, designed for demanding applications including under-the-hood automotive and electric vehicles, using Circular Polymers feedstocks.
- Carpet Recycling Container Service Container-based carpet recycling pickup service available across California to flooring businesses and project sites, with three container sizes (53' Trailer at 3,800 cubic feet, 20' Ground level cargo container at 1,150 cubic feet, and 28' container).
Quantifiable outcome
- 85 million pounds of carpet redirected from landfills into new goods since 2018
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Circular Polymers
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Circular Polymers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Circular Polymers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- CARPET AMERICA RECOVERY EFFORT (CARE)majorPartnership with CARE to recycle Super Bowl LX carpet into materials for future use. CARE previously awarded Circular Polymers grant in December 2018 and named them fastest growing recycler.
- BentleymajorBentley has successfully incorporated Circular Polymers' reclaimed calcium carbonate into all of its running-line backing systems, without requiring customer opt-in, premium pricing or performance trade-offs.
- Broadview Group International (BGI)coreCircular Polymers has exclusive North American rights to proprietary carpet recycling technology developed by Broadview Group International. BGI's technology disassembles carpet, cleans fibers, and maximizes yield while providing superior quality.
- PureCycle TechnologiesmajorPureCycle Technologies is an offtake partner commercializing a patented recycling process that transforms plastic waste feedstock into virgin-like resin. They are a key customer for Circular Polymers' recycled carpet feedstocks.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Circular Polymers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Shaw Industries Group (re[TURN] program): Shaw Industries, the largest U.S. carpet manufacturer, operates the re[TURN] carpet take-back and recycling program that converts post-consumer carpet into reclaimed nylon and other materials for resale. It is the most directly comparable competitor in the post-consumer carpet-to-polymer recycling space, with vertical integration into both feedstock collection and downstream resin demand.
- Aquafil (ECONYL): Aquafil's ECONYL brand regenerates Nylon 6 from post-consumer carpet, fishing nets, and other nylon waste into virgin-equivalent caprolactam. Aquafil is a direct competitor in carpet-to-nylon-6 recycling and competes for the same PCR nylon markets (textiles, automotive, flooring) that Circular Polymers serves.
- Mohawk Industries (ReCover / Continuum): Mohawk Industries operates the ReCover carpet recycling program and its Continuum recycled-content carpet tile line. Mohawk is a vertically-integrated carpet manufacturer with in-house post-consumer carpet recycling, competing directly with Circular Polymers for both feedstock and downstream PCR polymer sales.
- Interface (ReEntry program): Interface, a global modular carpet tile manufacturer, operates the ReEntry program to reclaim and recycle its own post-consumer carpet tiles into recycled-content backing and new flooring products. Interface is a direct carpet-to-recycled-polymer peer with strong sustainability positioning in commercial flooring.
- PolyCycle USA: PolyCycle USA operates carpet recycling facilities in the U.S., processing post-consumer and post-industrial carpet into reusable components. It is a direct competitor in post-consumer carpet collection and processing with overlapping geographic and feedstock exposure.
Emerging players
- PureCycle Technologies: PureCycle Technologies operates a proprietary solvent-based recycling process for polypropylene, sourcing PP feedstock from recyclers including Circular Polymers. PureCycle is both a customer (offtake partner) and an adjacent player in advanced/chemical recycling of the same polymer outputs Circular Polymers produces.
Broad incumbents
- MBA Polymers: MBA Polymers is a long-established recycler of post-consumer mixed plastics (appliances, automotive shredder residue, e-waste) into engineering-grade PCR resins. It is a broader plastic recycling incumbent operating a similar B2B feedstock-to-resin model across multiple polymer families.
- Ascend Performance Materials: Ascend Performance Materials is Circular Polymers' majority owner and a fully integrated global producer of high-performance polyamides (Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6) with the ReDefyne sustainable polyamide line built on Circular Polymers feedstocks. Ascend is the parent/partner that channels CP output into automotive and EV applications.
- Tarkett (ReStart program): Tarkett, a global flooring manufacturer, operates the ReStart take-back and recycling program for post-consumer flooring, including carpet. Tarkett is a broader flooring-industry incumbent with circular-economy programs that overlap with Circular Polymers' feedstock collection and recycled-material end-markets.
- CarbonLite (Indorama Ventures): Indorama Ventures (which acquired CarbonLite and other PET recyclers) operates large-scale rPET recycling facilities producing food-grade and fiber-grade recycled PET. It is a broader PCR resin incumbent competing in one of Circular Polymers' core polymer outputs (PET) at industrial scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Circular Polymers social profiles
Digital presenceCircular Polymers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Circular Polymers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Circular Polymers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Circular 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 Circular Polymers
What does Circular Polymers do?
Circular Polymers transforms post-consumer discarded carpet into polymer raw materials, producing recycled Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6, PET, and Polypropylene available in standard fiber, densified pellets, and melt filtered pellets, along with recycled Calcium Carbonate. The Lincoln, California facility processes up to 45 million pounds of carpet per year, and the company offers a California carpet collection service that supplies feedstock into its recycling operation.
Is Circular Polymers a public or private company?
Circular Polymers is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Circular Polymers founded?
Circular Polymers was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Circular Polymers based?
Circular Polymers is headquartered in Wilmette, United States, in the North America region.
How does Circular Polymers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Recycled Polymer Feedstock Sales are the primary driver. The others are chemical Recycling Feedstock Supply and calcium Carbonate Sales.
Who are Circular Polymers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shaw Industries Group (re[TURN] program), Aquafil (ECONYL), Mohawk Industries (ReCover / Continuum), Interface (ReEntry program) and PolyCycle USA. PureCycle Technologies is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are MBA Polymers, Ascend Performance Materials, Tarkett (ReStart program) and CarbonLite (Indorama Ventures).
Does Circular Polymers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Circular Polymers.
What industry is Circular Polymers in?
Circular Polymers's product category is Recycled Polymer Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAKAB, Mechanical Recycling (Wash, Grind, Pelletize), with a secondary code of IMANAMAG, Reprocessed Resin & Recycled Polymer Compounding (PCR/PIR Compounds). Its NAICS code is 325211 and its SIC code is 2821.