Packaging manufacturer ALPLA has established a new recycling company in the Netherlands to pilot a solvent-based recycling process for food-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The four-year initiative is being implemented in partnership with the National Test Centre for Circular Plastics (NTCP) at a facility in Heerenveen.
The project has received funding from the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth and aims to evaluate a patented process to produce food-safe recycled HDPE (rHDPE) at an industrial scale. This initiative aligns with upcoming EU packaging regulations that will require a minimum level of recycled content in packaging from 2030.
The pilot plant will serve as a testing ground to validate each step of the solvent-based recycling method. ALPLA and NTCP intend to seek approval for the process from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
“To date, there is no certified process in the EU for the production of food-grade HDPE recycled material. Our highly efficient technology for cleaning and processing post-consumer recycled material could be a real game changer,” said Michael Heyde, Head of Technology Recycling Division at ALPLA.
Martine Brandsma, CEO of NTCP, added, “This cooperation with ALPLA fits perfectly to the core activities and mission of NTCP… We believe that new technologies are needed to completely close the plastics value chain while reducing the amount of waste.”
ALPLA currently operates recycling facilities at 14 sites worldwide, producing PET and HDPE material with a total capacity of 400,000 tonnes.