Aeternal Upcycling

Aeternal Upcycling is a Chicago-based chemical recycling startup founded in 2022 that specializes in converting end-of-life plastic waste into high-value chemical products. The company utilizes a proprietary thermocatalytic hydrogenolysis process, developed by co-founders Ryan Hackler and Robert Kennedy during their research at the Argonne National Laboratory. This technology uses a platinum-based catalyst and hydrogen gas to break down stable, post-consumer polyolefins—such as HDPE, LDPE, and polypropylene—into versatile molecular building blocks. By converting these difficult-to-recycle plastics into specialized outputs like synthetic base oils, waxes, and additives, the process produces sustainable alternatives for the lubricant, cosmetics, packaging, and home goods sectors.

This technology provides a critical solution for manufacturers by offering drop-in, lower-carbon replacements for traditional, petroleum-derived ingredients. The company's synthetic base oils are designed to make high-performance industrial lubricants more affordable and accessible, helping manufacturers improve efficiency and reduce equipment downtime. By localized processing of plastic waste, Aeternal Upcycling aims to reduce supply chain dependency on global imports while significantly lowering the greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional manufacturing. Supported by various grants and accelerator programs, including investment from the U.S. Department of Energy, the company is scaling its operations to address the massive volume of plastic waste that currently ends up in landfills or incineration.