GE Water & Process Technologies has honored Clear Path Recycling with its Ecomagination Leadership and Return on Environment awards, recognizing the plastic bottle recycling operation for its reductions in chemical usage and cost.

Clear Path-a joint venture between Shaw Industries and DAK Americas-recycles approximately three billion plastic bottles annually. Converting post-consumer PET packaging into polyester fiber for Shaw’s carpet products saves approximately 1.5 trillion British thermal units of energy annually.

The GE Water & Process Technologies Ecomagination Leadership award recognizes the achievements of industrial users for striking a positive balance between today's environmental, industrial and sustainability challenges. It is given to the top GE customers in environmental and economic performance. The GE Water & Process Technologies ROE is a prestigious award honoring a significant environmental (water, energy, resource) accomplishment.

“Delivering a high-quality, environmentally sustainable solution cost-effectively is paramount. GE devised a far-reaching strategy for us to improve chemical control, use more efficient chemical products and capture data to improve operations. The project exceeded our expectations in lowering costs, and the quality of our recycled product greatly improved. We are honored that GE recognized us with Ecomagination Leadership and ROE awards," Carlos Garcia, managing director, Clear Path Recycling, said in a statement.

Faced with running a recycling operation more economically and the desire to become even more sustainable, Clear Path Recycling in Fayetteville, N.C., turned to GE’s advanced chemistry and digital tools to optimize its PET plastic bottle recycling process. As a result, the company substantially reduced chemical usage and costs while improving process control and quality.

GE Water & Process Technologies provided Clear Path Recycling with chemistry and its InSight asset performance management system, including advanced analytics and process controls, and product quality improved dramatically, and material handling safety was enhanced.

GE’s Gary Brown and Richard Ringler presented the awards at a ceremony last month to Clear Path Recycling’s Carlos Garcia, Marcelo Leal and Kent Robinson.

“This project is a shining example that a company can achieve sustainability goals while also realizing economic benefits. Clear Path Recycling is very deserving of both the GE Ecomagination Leadership and ROE awards for its leadership in this space,” Amy Ericson, global leader, chemical and monitoring solutions—GE Water & Process Technologies, said in a statement.