In today’s interview, we meet the startup Fych Technologies. We speak with its co-founder and CEO, Andrea Cabanes.
What problem does your startup address, and what solution does it offer?
Fych Technologies is a startup focused on the development and commercialization of innovative technologies that improve the plastic recycling process. So far, Fych has developed three technologies that have been patented in Spain and are currently being extended to other countries. One of these technologies addresses the recycling of multilayer materials composed of several layers of different, often incompatible materials, which cannot be recycled using conventional methods. The other two technologies enhance the quality of recycled plastics by eliminating unwanted odors and removing contaminants. This enables the recycled plastic to be used in high-value applications.
How and why did you start this entrepreneurial journey? Any advice from your experience that you would like to share with future entrepreneurs?
The company was founded after around four years of research conducted by its founders at the University of Alicante, focused on improving plastic recycling to increase the recyclability of certain products, such as multilayer packaging, and to improve the quality of recycled plastics. The founders have always had close contact with the plastics and recycling industries, so we were aware of the needs and challenges these sectors face. When we began sharing the results of our research, we started receiving multiple inquiries from companies interested in learning more about the technologies. That’s when we realized it was the right time to bring these technologies to market, as there was a clear need and we had a viable solution. We created the company to transfer the knowledge generated at the university to the industry.
Our advice to future entrepreneurs is to carry out intensive market and business model validation to reduce the risks of starting a new venture. Also — very importantly — to find a trustworthy and capable team to embark on the journey with.
How do you expect the sector to evolve? And what are your expectations for your startup?
The sector is currently at a key turning point. Social pressure and regulatory changes are strongly driving the push for plastic products to become more sustainable and recyclable as many times as possible. As a result, many companies in the sector are seeking new technologies that can improve recycling and increase the quality of recycled products. Fych aims to become a leading company in the sector, dedicated to the development and scaling of technologies that offer viable and efficient solutions to the challenges of plastic recycling.
Any upcoming developments you’d like to share with other startups?
Fych is currently conducting pilot tests on the recycling of polyaluminum from Tetra Paks, post-consumer PET/PE trays, and other multilayer materials. The results will be available soon and shared accordingly.
In what areas would you like to collaborate with other startups, companies, or organisations?
Regarding potential collaborations with other startups and/or organizations, we would be interested in developing new products using recycled plastics through Fych’s proprietary technologies.