Overview
Agilyx ASA is an advanced recycling technology company headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, USA, with operations in Norway. Founded in 2004, Agilyx has pioneered chemical recycling technologies that convert difficult-to-recycle plastic waste back into its original monomers and valuable chemical feedstocks. The company’s mission is to close the loop on plastic waste by enabling true circular recycling of plastics that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators.
Agilyx’s proprietary depolymerization technology, particularly for polystyrene (PS), represents a breakthrough in advanced recycling. The process breaks down waste polystyrene into high-purity styrene monomer, which can then be repolymerized into virgin-quality polystyrene — enabling infinite recyclability of polystyrene products.
Core Technology: Styrenyx Depolymerization
The Depolymerization Process
Agilyx’s Styrenyx technology uses thermal depolymerization to break the polymer chains of waste polystyrene back into their constituent monomers. The process involves:
- Feedstock Preparation: Post-consumer and post-industrial polystyrene waste is collected, sorted, and prepared for processing
- Thermal Cracking: The polystyrene is heated in a controlled, oxygen-free environment, breaking the long polymer chains into shorter molecules
- Monomer Recovery: Styrene monomer is separated and purified to near-virgin quality
- Repolymerization: The recovered styrene can be used to produce new polystyrene with identical properties to fossil-based material
Key Advantages
- Virgin-quality output: Recovered styrene monomer meets the same specifications as fossil-based styrene
- Contaminated feedstock tolerance: Can process polystyrene waste with food residues and other contaminants
- Closed-loop recycling: Enables true circularity for polystyrene packaging and products
- Carbon footprint reduction: Significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin styrene production
Joint Ventures and Partnerships
Cyclyx International
Agilyx co-founded Cyclyx International, a joint venture with ExxonMobil and other partners, focused on creating a circular economy for plastic waste. Cyclyx develops and operates feedstock management systems that process post-use plastic into high-quality feedstock suitable for both mechanical and advanced recycling operations.
Cyclyx’s approach involves:
- Advanced sorting and characterization of mixed plastic waste
- Customized feedstock formulations for specific recycling processes
- Supply chain integration from waste collection to recycling facilities
Plastyx
Plastyx is Agilyx’s European joint venture focused on supplying European-sourced plastic feedstock to the advanced recycling industry. This venture addresses the growing demand for recycled plastic feedstock in Europe, driven by EU recycling targets and extended producer responsibility regulations.
Primary Materials
- Polystyrene (PS): Primary feedstock for depolymerization technology
- Styrene Monomer: High-purity output from the depolymerization process
- Pyrolysis Oil: Co-product from mixed plastic waste processing
- Recycled Plastic Feedstock: Processed and characterized waste plastic for recycling
Market Segments
- Packaging: Circular recycling of polystyrene food packaging, protective packaging, and EPS foam
- Recycling: Technology licensing and joint venture operations for advanced recycling facilities
- Chemical: Supply of recycled styrene monomer and other chemical feedstocks
- Advanced Recycling: Development and commercialization of chemical recycling technologies
Environmental Impact
Agilyx’s technology addresses one of the most challenging problems in plastic recycling: polystyrene, which is rarely recycled mechanically due to contamination and economic constraints. By enabling chemical recycling of polystyrene, Agilyx helps divert significant volumes of plastic waste from landfills and incineration.
The company’s life cycle assessments show that styrene monomer produced through Agilyx’s depolymerization process has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventionally produced styrene, contributing to the decarbonization of the chemical industry.
Recent Developments
In October 2025, Agilyx completed an investment transaction with GreenDot, one of Europe’s largest waste management and recycling companies. This partnership strengthens Agilyx’s access to plastic waste feedstock and expands the commercial deployment of its depolymerization technology across European markets.
Last updated: June 19, 2026 Information sourced from Agilyx corporate website and industry databases