The improper disposal of plastics is one of the most pressing environmental concerns that we face.  There is exacerbated by the increased production of single-use disposable plastic products. Half of the plastics ever manufactured were in the last 15 years and 40% of this production is for single-use plastics that have led to a throw-away culture. Itero is a chemical recycling cleantech startup that uses technology to convert plastic to reusable raw materials for the production of new plastics.  Rather than ending up in landfills and oceans, plastics can successfully be used in the circular economy through the company’s proprietary thermal conversion (pyrolysis) technology, leading to sustainability and reduced consumption of fossil fuels.  Itero is currently piloting its technology at a recycling plant in the Netherlands that can handle up to 27,000 tonnes of residual plastic waste annually. This is equivalent to the plastic packaging waste generated in Amsterdam on an annual basis. Given the massive increase in the use and production of plastics globally, traditional recycling alone will not be enough to combat the crisis at hand; Itero paves the way for a tech-enabled solution that can be scaled. London TechWatch caught up with Itero CEO Simon Hansford to learn more about the business, the company’s strategic plans, recent round of funding, and much, much more…