Mechanical recycling of polyolefin packaging

The goal this program line is to improve the quality of mechanically recycled polyolefin packaging.

The The RePliCaproject (€6.4 million) focuses on closing the loop for HDPE milk bottles used for pasteurized milk. Together with the partners, work is underway on a new demonstration facility in Heerenveen, where innovative sorting techniques and decontamination processes are being applied to turn used HDPE milk bottles into food-safe recycled material, an important step toward the PPWR targets for 2030.

Project partners: Morssinkhof Plastics, Mors-Invest, SABIC Global Technologies, Farm Dairy, Wageningen University and Research, Plastics Sorting Plant, Verpact

The SKILLS project (€2.9 million) aims to establish a closed-loop supply chain for stretch film containing post-consumer recycled (PCR) material.

Objectives and approach:

• Production of PCR films with equal quality to virgin films
• Improvement of sorting, washing, regrinding and filtering processes
• Development of optimal formulations and processing conditions for PCR
• Field tests by Grolsch and Trioworld to achieve 100% virgin-free LLDPE
• Scaling up with a demo line and blueprint for a recycling plant in the Netherlands

This is a demo plant for high-performance stretch film with at least 50% PCR and validation of recycling processes for high-performance chain closure. SKILLS stands for Close Chain lndustrial LLDPE Stretchfilms (SKILLS). The consortium consists of Trioworld, Grolsch, Broeckx Recycling and NTCP.

SKILLS during CPNL project launch May 2024

The Cap-To-Cap Recycling project (€7.4 million) aims to close the loop for HDPE caps by recycling them into food-safe HDPE recyclate for new caps. Unlike food-safe rPET from PET bottles, HDPE caps could not yet be processed in a circular manner.

Objectives and approach:

• Development of rHDPE recyclate with food-safe properties
• Construction and optimization of a demonstration plant with sorting, washing, regranulation and decontamination steps
• Perform chemical, mechanical and food safety testing

This is a demo plant capable of producing 5,000 tons annually of food-safe HDPE recyclate suitable for new caps. The project promotes the circular economy by realizing a closed loop for HDPE caps and creates opportunities for other food-safe polyolefin recyclates. The consortium consists of Morssinkhof Plastics, SABIC, Mors-Invest B.V., Corvaglia Mould AG, DUCARES B.V. (Triskelion) and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Nederland B.V.

In 2024, 3 long-term strategy processes were started to work on the NL ambition for circular plastics chains. After an in-depth data analysis on the volumes in the chains in NL, future scenarios are explored through workshops for:

• Building & Construction
• Textile
• Packaging

For more information, check out our updates

Contact the experts on the CPNL team or check out our updates.