Public Funds and Welfare Capital Accelerate Circular Technology
Düsseldorf/Berlin, 15 August 2025 – The non-profit cooldown°earth foundation is pleased to announce that its portfolio company matterr has received funding confirmation from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the EFRE/JTF program “Produktives.NRW.” On August 6, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Mona Neubaur presented the funding approval in Düsseldorf.
matterr has developed a globally patented solution that can repeatedly transform waste into high-quality raw materials. The company’s goal is to end the export of waste from industrialized nations, a practice that disproportionately affects the world’s poorest countries. Their technology, which involves the depolymerization of PET under mild conditions, allows for the breakdown of mixed waste into its primary components and the replacement of fossil raw materials on a large scale. This process, known as molecular upcycling, enables the creation of high-quality products from previously hard-to-recycle materials such as polyester textiles and even food contact approved packaging.
With the funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, matterr can accelerate the construction of its second plant, which is planned to start operations in 2027 with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes. The core technology of the plant is the depolymerization of PET, and it will be the first of its kind in the state.
“We are thrilled about this unique partnership between a non-profit foundation and the state,” says Wolfgang K. Hoever, founder of cooldown°earth. “This infrastructure will not only benefit climate protection but also our region as a business location.”
The funding commitment to matterr is not only the first from this program but also the maximum possible grant amount of €30 million. cooldown°earth is not the recipient of the funding, but an early investor and enabler. Any potential returns from its stake will be reinvested in non-profit climate and environmental protection projects, in accordance with the foundation’s statutes.
The funding program, Produktives.NRW, is a joint effort between the state of NRW and the EU to support strategic technologies and ensure they remain in the region. Other recipients of the program include matterr and Greenlyte. Minister Neubaur highlighted the triple benefit for climate, jobs, and innovation in a press release from NRW.
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Wolfgang K. Hoever
Chairman of the Board
cooldown°earth foundation
Tiergartenstr.81
D-47800 Krefeld
presse@cooldown.earth
A photo of the funding handover with Mona Neubaur and Wolfgang K. Hoever is available at AP. From left to right: Thomas Tochtermann (Chairman of the Board, matterr), Benjamin Rump (COO, matterr), Wolfgang K. Hoever (Founder/Board, cooldown°earth), Mona Neubaur (Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia), Melanie Hackler (CEO, matterr), Jan Rückold (Head of Finance, matterr). Photo credit: © MWIKE NRW / Bowinkelmann.
Distributed by Pressat.co.uk.
