Closed Loop Partners Backs Renegade Plastics’ Recyclable PP Production Expansion

Photo Credit: Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners, a New York-based investment firm, has provided a loan to Renegade Plastics, a Golden, Colorado-based startup developing recyclable polypropylene (PP)-coated textiles. The financing, provided through its Catalytic Capital & Private Credit group, will support working capital for the company’s pilot production line in Denver as it prepares to establish a commercial-scale manufacturing facility. The loan is being provided alongside a separate $5 million grant awarded to Renegade Plastics by Colorado Circular Communities.

Renegade Plastics is developing a mono-material alternative to conventional coated textiles made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE) and polyurethane (PU). Its fabric is produced by laminating a PP coating onto a woven PP base. Using a single polymer is intended to simplify recycling by eliminating the need to separate incompatible materials during processing.

Coated textiles are used across construction, logistics, agriculture, automotive manufacturing, healthcare, sports and consumer products. Potential applications for Renegade’s materials include tarpaulins, mats, geotextiles, seat covers, mattresses, weatherproof bags and reusable industrial packaging. According to the company, the coated textiles market represents an opportunity of more than $91 billion.

The company is also working to incorporate recycled polypropylene (rPP) into its products. Through collaboration with scrim manufacturers, Renegade aims to increase recycled content to more than 25% in finished fabrics. It reports that products containing recycled material have a carbon footprint nearly 50% lower than comparable virgin PVC fabric, while maintaining similar performance and weighing less.

Founded in 2021 by Tony Ehrbar and Curran Hughes, Renegade Plastics currently operates a pilot production and innovation facility in Denver, Colorado. The company is working toward commercial-scale manufacturing while developing its recycling partnerships and production capabilities.

Alongside product development, Renegade has established a network of more than 10 qualified recycling partners across the United States. These partners collect used tarpaulins and coated fabrics, shred and reprocess them, and supply the recovered PP resin for use in new products. This arrangement is designed to connect material recovery with manufacturing demand and support the continued use of recycled feedstock.

Source: Closed Loop Partners

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Renegade Plastics’ project highlights two important aspects of plastics recycling: designing products with material recovery in mind and developing reliable end markets for recycled resin. The involvement of recycling partners and downstream manufacturers also illustrates how collection, processing, and product manufacturing can be connected to support the use of recycled PP.