How This Chennai-Based Company Is Turning Trash Into Treasure

Pondy Oxides and Chemicals Ltd. (POCL) is doing something amazing—taking scrap metal that would otherwise be wasted and turning it into valuable materials like lead, aluminum, and copper alloys.

Every year, they recycle a staggering 140,000 tonnes of metal waste, and their products find homes not just in India but in countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and across West Asia.

Founded in 1995, this Chennai-based company has come a long way. What started as a small operation has grown into a recycling powerhouse, and they’ve set their sights on achieving 20% annual growth in revenue, profits, and return on capital by 2030. What’s fueling this growth? The increasing global demand for recycled materials, as more countries get serious about sustainability.

From Chemicals to Metals: A Smart Shift

POCL wasn’t always a metals company. In fact, they started in chemicals. But as the world changed, so did POCL. They saw the potential in metals and expanded into recycling and PVC additives. At one point, they even tried their hand at making lead-acid batteries. However, realizing it wasn’t their thing, they sold the battery business to Amco Batteries and shifted focus back to what they do best—recycling metals.

Today, POCL is the first Indian lead smelter to be listed on the prestigious London Metal Exchange, a huge achievement! Their Managing Director, Ashish Bansal, is clear about where the company is heading: they’ll continue to focus on recycling but want to add more value by producing finished goods from the recycled materials. And they’re backing up this ambition—POCL raised ₹133 crore recently, with ₹76 crore going directly toward increasing their production capacity.

The Big Four: Lead, Plastics, Copper, and Aluminum

POCL isn’t just a one-trick pony. They operate in four main areas—lead, plastics, copper, and aluminum recycling. Lead is their superstar, contributing 85% of their revenue and primarily serving battery manufacturers. In fact, they’re the largest exporter of lead products in India, with exports making up 56% of their ₹1,524 crore revenue in FY24.

But POCL isn’t stopping there. Lead-acid batteries are still in high demand, especially in Asia, so they’re ramping up their lead production from 132,000 tonnes a year to a whopping 204,000 tonnes.

Plastics: A Quiet Powerhouse in the Making

While lead is the big earner, POCL’s plastics business is gaining traction fast. Last year, they launched a subsidiary, POCL Future Tech Private Ltd, focusing on recycling various plastics like PPCP, ABS, and nylon. They’ve even started working with OEMs to develop custom plastic grades for industries. What’s the goal? To grow last year’s ₹20 crore revenue into ₹100 crore this fiscal year—and they plan to double their production capacity within 18 months. Talk about ambition!

Copper and Aluminum: Small but Mighty

Copper is another area where POCL sees big potential. Right now, it’s a smaller part of the business, mainly recycling copper from industrial cables. But with demand rising for sustainable materials, they’re looking into creative ways to upcycle copper.

Then there’s aluminum. POCL only started recycling aluminum last year, but it’s already producing 12,000 tonnes annually, supplying mainly to the automotive industry. They’ve got big plans for aluminum, especially as the industry pushes for more lightweight, eco-friendly materials.

The Future: Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

Here’s where things get even more exciting. POCL is eyeing the lithium-ion battery recycling market, aiming to enter it by 2026-27. With the growing electric vehicle industry, they expect a flood of battery scrap in the next few years, and they’re gearing up to meet that demand.

Global Reach, Local Impact

POCL’s strength lies in its vast procurement network. They source scrap from over 270 suppliers across 70 countries, but they’re also looking to increase domestic sourcing. As India tightens its regulations on waste management, POCL plans to bump up local sourcing from 20% to 40%.

To support their growing ambitions, they’ve bought 123 acres in Gujarat for a new facility. This prime spot near a port will make importing and exporting materials easier. POCL is also considering bringing on an international partner or adopting new technologies to help with this massive expansion.

The Bottom Line

POCL is one to watch. From lead recycling to plastics, copper, and beyond, this company is transforming waste into value—literally turning trash into treasure. And with plans to enter the lithium-ion battery recycling market and expand operations globally, they’re just getting started!