AMCOR has announced the support of a three-year plastic recycling project led by the Danish Technological Institute.
The co-funded partnership Circular Recycling Innovation for Sustainable Packaging (CRISP) aims to establish the full-scale circular recycling of food packaging in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) rigid plastics from household collections.
The initiative will involve major food manufacturers and waste management specialists. Amcor will bring recycling and technical expertise from its CleanStream facility in Leamington Spa, UK, and packaging production facility in Randers, Denmark.
“Sustainable challenges require industry collaboration, and this partnership will demonstrate what can be done when the supply chain comes together,” said Christian Bruno, R&D director for north east Europe at Amcor. “We are proud to be part of a project that could potentially have a significant environmental impact in Denmark and set new standards worldwide.”
Amcor added that it is anticipated the CRISP partnership will help develop and mature a systemic solution to deliver food-grade packaging from post-consumer sources. The goal is to create a fully circular market for the circular recycling of food packaging in rHDPE and rPP.
Christian Bruno said, “The long-term goal is to establish circular loops for food plastic packaging aligned with the design guidelines from the PPWR. The EU’s goals are driving this industry to greater highs; the project will make a strong business case for the entire value chain, with improved traceability of food contact materials in the recycling system.”
Per Sigaard Christensen, business manager from Danish Technological Institute, added, “We are delighted to bring together this highly knowledgeable and innovative consortium. This three-year project has the potential to provide a clear pathway towards the circular recycling of PE and PP food packaging.”
Amor’s CleanStream technology mechanically recycles domestically recovered household waste into recycled plastic. The firm revealed that its Leamington Spa facility has the capacity to recycle nearly 40% of all UK PP waste collected from domestic recycling bins.
