As the new co-owner and CEO at Geo-Tech Polymers, Sanjay Dutta certainly has a vision.
Waverly, Ohio-based Geo-Tech has made a name for itself thanks to its proprietary processes to recycle plastics.
Using that technology as a basis for growth, Dutta sees greater potential for Geo-Tech, including a greatly expanded footprint for the company to offer additional services along the supply chain.
Dutta acquired Geo-Tech about four months ago, and said the company is growing from about 300,000 square feet of space to more than 2 million square feet.
“We are vertically integrating. We have acquired more space now at Geo-Tech,” he said.
“If we create a vertically integrated recycling facility with molding, warehousing and we create an economic model that's just not about creating a transaction,” he said.
“The question to be asked is it's not only about how much does it cost you, it is what good does it do for the vertical chain up and down,” he said.
So Dutta sees a company that will not only take and recycle used plastics, but also create new products from that recovered resin. To that end, Geo-Tech is looking for like-minded companies to partner with to create value using recycled resin.
“We're always welcoming people to reach out to us. We are looking for closed-loop relationships in a very extensive way,” he said.
“The thing is creating a value proposition for waste reduction,” he said. “We are there to make an impact for sure.”
“We are a triple-bottom-line company. That is something that is inherit to my DNA. People, planet and profits. That drives me, truly. Because if you take care of the value of the society, the community you live in, the rest follows,” he said.
Geo-Tech is a profitable company, he said, and one that “absolutely” needs to go to the next level. “The journey is ongoing.”
“We need to keep plugging along and bring value to the marketplace,” he said. “There are millions of pounds of plastic now going to the landfill not captured by anybody.”
Dutta said he is “definitely not a tree hugger” and that companies need to make a profit to survive. But there also is a way to benefit people, including employees, make money and help the environment all at once.
Dutta was part of a recent panel at the Plastics Recycling 2018 conference that discussed the recycling of thermoplastic polyolefin bumpers through a project spearheaded by the Plastics Industry Association.
While answering a question, he casually mentioned he recently acquired Geo-Tech, but did not make that a focus of his on-stage comments. He later said, during an interview, he wants people to know about Geo-Tech's abilities, but is not looking to make a big splash.
What Dutta does want to do, he said, is make a difference.
“I want to make sure I create sustainability,” he said. “For me, I'm just as happy being invisible in the marketplace than anyone knowing who I am. ... People who need to know me or have a need, they will find me and I will find them. It's never been an issue.”
Dutta said he acquired Geo-Tech along with a couple of partners. The company formerly was owned by Wastren Advantage Inc.
The company has patented processes to removed materials such as coatings, inks, labels, paints and contaminants from a wide variety of recycled plastics. The firm previously has said it uses a combination of heat, friction and chemistry.