Podcast Summary: The Digital Executive

Episode: Nick Spina on Rewriting Recycling with Rapid Depolymerization | Ep 1171
Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Coruzant Technologies

Episode Overview

This episode of The Digital Executive features Nick Spina, CEO of Denovia, a cleantech company pioneering rapid depolymerization technology. Spina discusses how Denovia is transforming plastic recycling by breaking plastics down to their chemical building blocks in mere minutes, differentiating their approach from traditional recycling methods. The conversation covers the science, scalability, real-world pilot projects—including a focus on textile waste—and the crucial role of storytelling in driving industry and public engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scientific Breakthrough: Rapid Depolymerization

• Technology Foundation:
  • Denovia’s process leverages an advanced methanolysis technique to “flash depolymerize” plastics in about 30 seconds.
  • Distinct from traditional recycling (mechanical/“heat and mold”), this method breaks plastics down to monomers, purifies them, and rebuilds them to create new, virgin-quality plastic.
• Notable Quote:
  • “We can depolymerize or flash depolymerize in about 30 seconds. So it is extremely rapid... turning plastic waste into a renewable resource, which is absolutely fantastic.” — Nick Spina (01:34)
• Context & Impact:
  • This process upcycles plastics that would otherwise be landfilled, incinerated, or pollute oceans, offering substantial environmental benefits.

2. Making Complex Science Accessible: The Power of Storytelling

• Importance of Communication:
  • Spina emphasizes translating complex science for broad audiences, breaking down why Denovia’s approach is transformative.
  • Contrasts their method to mechanical recycling, which only “heats and molds” plastic, while Denovia’s method truly resets material integrity.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Simplifying it to make it...understandable—because the typical method...is called heat and mold, which is mechanical recycling. We’re getting really down to the molecular level and rebirthing it essentially from its day one state again.” — Nick Spina (03:37)
• Host’s Perspective:
  • “You make this complex science explainable to the average person... I appreciate your message.” — Host (04:21)

3. Economic Viability & Sustainability

• Efficiency and Cost:
  • The chemicals used in Denovia's process are widely available and almost entirely reusable, contributing to high margins and profitability.
  • The output streams, including purified monomers and by-products (like biochar), create additional value.
• Notable Quote:
  • “You can actually reuse almost near 100% of everything that we put into the process...makes it extremely...profitable...while being extremely sustainable.” — Nick Spina (04:59)
• Innovative By-Products:
  • Contaminants from mixed plastics can be converted into fertilizer or biochar, further minimizing waste.

4. Real World Deployment: The ARC Demo Unit

• Testing & Versatility:
  • The ARC demo unit is a transportable, commercial-scale depolymerization system tested with various plastics and polyester textiles.
  • Notable success in processing textile waste from Canadian hospitals—addressing the growing issue of “fast fashion” pollution.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The ARC is designed to be a unit that can be shipped around the world...We have successfully depolymerized polyester textiles...rapidly.” — Nick Spina (06:39)
• Scalability:
  • Plans to scale the unit by 7.5× for commercial partners and deploy globally.

5. Tackling Textile Waste

• Broadened Impact:
  • Emphasis on how Denovia’s technology is extending to address mountains of textile waste, a critical and often overlooked environmental challenge.
• Host’s Reflection:
  • “Textile waste is now in your sights to prevent another billion tons of annually of waste that we could certainly recycle.” — Host (08:19)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• [01:34] Nick Spina:
  “We can depolymerize or flash depolymerize in about 30 seconds. So it is extremely rapid and...turning plastic waste into a renewable resource.”
• [03:37] Nick Spina:
  “Simplifying it to make it...understandable—because the typical method...is called heat and mold, which is mechanical recycling. We’re getting really down to the molecular level and rebirthing it essentially from its day one state again.”
• [04:59] Nick Spina:
  “You can actually reuse almost near 100% of everything that we put into the process...makes it extremely...profitable...while being extremely sustainable.”
• [06:39] Nick Spina:
  “The ARC is designed to be a unit that can be shipped around the world...We have successfully depolymerized polyester textiles...rapidly.”
• [08:19] Host:
  “Textile waste is now in your sights to prevent another billion tons of annually of waste that we could certainly recycle.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 01:03: Host introduction; guest welcome
• 01:04 – 02:55: Scientific breakthrough – Rapid depolymerization explained
• 02:56 – 04:21: Communicating science—storytelling for broad understanding
• 04:22 – 05:56: Economic and environmental case for the technology
• 05:57 – 06:39: Host reflections; future of recycling
• 06:40 – 08:19: Real-world deployment—the ARC demo unit and textile waste solutions
• 08:20 – 08:53: Closing remarks

Episode Takeaways

• Denovia’s rapid depolymerization could revolutionize recycling by making plastic a truly circular, renewable resource.
• The technology’s versatility extends to difficult waste streams, including polyester textiles from hospitals and post-consumer plastics.
• Economic sustainability is matched by environmental impact, thanks to nearly complete chemical reuse and upcycling of by-products.
• Storytelling and accessible communication are crucial to industry change and public buy-in.
• The scalable, globally deployable ARC unit is already paving the way for broader adoption.

This episode succinctly highlights how deep tech, clear communication, and scalable engineering can build a sustainable future for plastics and beyond.