A NEW APPROACH TO AUTOMATIVE WASTE – GRENSOL CLOSES THE LOOP

Grensol, a Swiss start-up backed by Switzerland Innovation Park Central, Site of SIP Zurich, transforms car shredder waste into valuable materials, cutting CO2 and boosting circular recycling.

“Thanks to the innovation park, we have been able to establish valuable partnerships in central Switzerland that are helping us significantly in the further growth of our company.”

Rajiv Singhal

CEO and founder of Grensol AG

When cars reach the end of their life, the reusable parts and large metal components get recycled, but what remains – seats, insulation, foams, and other plastics – gets shredded into a complex waste stream called automotive shredder residue (ASR). Historically, ASR has been incinerated, releasing CO2 emissions and squandering valuable materials. 

Grensol, a Swiss startup founded in 2021, is tackling this long-standing challenge with an innovative solution developed in partnership with WPI (USA), ETH Zurich and HEIG-VD. Grensol’s proprietary, three-step recycling process enables the extraction of valuable materials from ASR to close the materials loop for the automotive industry and avoid CO2 emissions. 

The process begins with mechanical separation to recover metals like copper, aluminum, and steel. Next, fluid dynamics are used to transform minerals such as auto glass into cement making raw material. Finally, the residual material undergoes Photolysis – a light-driven chemical breakdown – yielding hydrogen and carbon materials. All recovered outputs can be reintegrated into industrial material supply chains: metals can be remelted into new components, glass can replace mined silica in cement production, and carbon can be reused in plastics manufacturing. 

Grensol's technology is used in recycling microsites located directly at or near car recycling facilities, so that the ASR only needs to be transported over short distances. The first site in Biberist, Solothurn is expected to begin operations by early 2026. Each microsite will process up to 25,000 tonnes of ASR annually and avoid about 6.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions per tonne of ASR recycled. 

By transforming unrecyclable waste into reusable resources while avoiding incineration, Grensol is helping drive Switzerland toward a more sustainable, circular future. 
It is therefore not surprising that the start-up was named one of Switzerland's top 100 start-ups by Venturelab.

Grensol is part of the Switzerland Innovation Park Central network and has received decisive impetus for its further development through its active support. Here are a few examples of how 
Switzerland Innovation Park Central has specifically promoted the company:

Network

  • Networking with key players

Financing

  • Innovation Booster Energy Lab: CHF 20,000
  • Innovation Booster New Mobility Lab: CHF 25,000
  • Buildify.earth investment

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