Kevin DeWhitt

Presentation Title:

Agricultural Films and Flexible Plastics – Opportunities and Challenges

Kevin DeWhitt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, PDO Technologies, Inc.

Abstract:

There is a slowly growing opportunity to reclaim “hard-to-recycle” plastics directly from growers around the US. Most of a grower’s plastic waste is considered to be too contaminated for classical recycling methods, but companies like PDO Technologies have developed strategies to reclaim this plastic waste and convert it into chemicals that can be used in commerce. Film plastics (like polyethylene mulch films) are very difficult to remove from the field and process, but effective strategies can be employed to leverage the grower’s local resources to perform this process in a cost-effective manner. Flexible plastics are more straightforward unless they are coupled with the PE films, but in all cases the plastic material can be effectively removed from the farm, thus eliminating a potential environmental challenge from the grower and allowing them to focus on their core competency – feeding a growing population.

Bio:

Kevin DeWhitt is the founder of PDO Technologies Inc., a company dedicated to keeping plastic waste out of the natural environment. For the past 7 years, PDO Technologies has advanced its plastic waste conversion technology, making it economically efficient, carbon neutral and operable in the most remote corners of the world. Partnering with mechanical recyclers and local communities, PDO creates micro-circular economies, processing the hard-to-recycle plastic waste.

Prior to PDO, Mr. DeWhitt founded Agilyx Corporation, (originally, Plas2Fuel), a first of its kind, plastic-to-crude oil technology company. Agilyx raised more than $150 million from green-tech angel investors, venture capitalists and strategic partners, becoming the leader in chemical recycling. Mr. DeWhitt led the development efforts as Chief Technology Officer, resulting in commercialization in 2012 at three project locations in the USA. Mr. DeWhitt has been granted one international and eight national (US) patents related to PTF technology.