Grensol awarded CHF 150,000 to advance its waste-to-materials technology

Zurich-based Grensol has received CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick after winning the stage of the program. Founded in 2021, the cleantech startup uses patented photolysis technology to convert waste into valuable resources like emission-free hydrogen and carbon black, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

Nearly 20% of a car’s weight becomes waste when being recycled, primarily composed of mixed plastics, metal fragments, and crushed glass, which make up. This waste is often incinerated with municipal solid waste or sent to landfills, resulting in high costs for recycling companies and contributing to pollution and carbon emissions. At the same time, the demand for materials to support the clean energy transition is placing additional pressure on limited natural resources.

Grensol’s proprietary solution addresses both issues by converting recycling residues into functional raw materials that replace virgin-source materials while avoiding costly and harmful waste disposal methods. The company’s patented process uses high-intensity light generated from renewable energy sources to break down hydrocarbons in mixed plastic waste. The process begins with mechanical separation to remove metals and other contaminants. Then, the remaining plastics undergo photolysis, where they are rapidly decomposed in a matter of seconds. The main products of this process are emission-free hydrogen and recovered carbon black, which can be used as feedstocks for new polymers.

This innovative method allows Grensol to extract valuable resources from approximately 100 million tons of waste annually that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfills, while preventing more than 500 million tons of carbon emissions each year. The company targets a USD 90 billion market opportunity in new materials and waste disposal savings, contributing significantly to sustainability efforts.

The Venture Kick cash prize of CHF 150’000 will be used to accelerate the development of the solution for car recycling waste and broaden its reach to other waste streams such as electronic scrap and demolition-waste plastics. It aims to achieve this by implementing compact, efficient systems directly at existing industrial sites to maximize resource recovery and minimize waste.

Currently, the company is implementing the initial phase of its solution for metals and minerals recovery with its Swiss demonstration plant in Canton Solothurn, located on HIAG’s redevelopment site of the former Biberist Paper Mill. Its plant is expected to be in production in early 2025.

The founding team includes CEO Rajiv Singhal, CFO Marc Ocskay, and CTO Dr. Marco Ziegler, and is supported by Dr. Silvan Suter as an R&D Project Manager and CBO Federico Bussmann. With their combined expertise in leadership, finance, technology, research, and business development, they are focused on a more sustainable waste-free future.

“Venture Kick has been an incredible partner in our entrepreneurial journey, accelerating our growth with vital early-stage funding, insightful feedback from its well-qualified jury members, and exciting opportunities like the AMAG Sustainability Challenge,” mentioned Rajiv Singhal. “They have truly helped us kickstart our vision and take it to the next level!”

(Press release/RAN)
Image: CEO Rajiv Singhal and CFO Marc Ocskay (left), and CTO Marco Ziegler (right)