The chemicals industry is among the hardest sectors to abate. Polyols and surfactants, the building blocks of polyurethanes, coatings, detergents, and personal care products, are produced almost entirely from petrochemical feedstocks. While carbon capture technologies are advancing, captured CO₂ often lacks a profitable, scalable end-use, leaving a gap in the carbon circularity chain. Manufacturers face mounting pressure to lower footprints without sacrificing performance or economics.
Catalysts for change
Econic Technologies is reimagining the molecular foundation of these materials. Founded in 2011, Econic has developed a proprietary catalyst platform that embeds captured CO₂ directly into polymer backbones. The technology replaces up to 40% of fossil-derived feedstock in the production of polycarbonate ether polyols and surfactants, cutting the carbon footprint of end products by up to 30%. Rather than manufacturing end-products itself, Econic licenses its technology to existing chemical producers, who can retrofit it into their plants with minimal capital outlay.
Lower pressure, higher performance
Econic’s two-stage catalyst process operates at roughly 10 bar, significantly lower than competing systems requiring more than 30 bar, reducing energy consumption and making retrofitting commercially viable. The catalyst is also recyclable across multiple production cycles, with anticipated recovery rates of 75%. By substituting expensive epoxides with low-cost, often waste-stream CO₂, manufacturers improve gross margins while hedging against petrochemical price volatility.
From pilot to commercial scale
Econic has moved decisively into commercial deployment. In March 2026, Changhua Chemical began production at an 80,000-tonne facility in Lianyungang, China, the first commercial-scale plant using Econic’s technology. In the United States, Monument Chemical began producing CO₂-based polyols at its Brandenburg, Kentucky facility in November 2025. Econic is also advancing deployment with Manali Petrochemicals in India and signed a licensing agreement with Saudi Aramco in 2025. Beyond polyols, the company has launched its Recreaire carbonate ethoxylate surfactant platform and continues to work with Unilever on CO₂-derived ingredients for household cleaning and laundry products.
Why TTV is backing the platform
At TTV, we believe profitable carbon utilisation is the missing link in scaling the global CCUS ecosystem. Econic is not simply a materials company; it is a platform that turns a waste gas into a valuable raw material, creating market-driven demand for captured carbon. With 95 granted patents and more than 100 pending across 24 territories, Econic offers both immediate industrial applicability and a long-term pathway to decarbonise some of the most ubiquitous materials in the modern economy.
