Packaging solutions company Amcor has completed an upgrade at its recycling facility in Heanor, UK, to bolster high-performance recycling infrastructure in Europe and foster a circular economy transition.
The Heanor site transforms post-consumer and industrial flexible plastic waste into recycled polymers. These polymers are subsequently utilised in Amcor's flexible packaging for various markets.
Recent enhancements, including the modernisation of the wash plant and improvements to quality and safety systems, enable the facility to produce an additional 2,800 tonnes (t) of recyclate for flexible packaging applications.
The Heanor facility, together with Amcor's recycling centre of excellence in Steinfeld, Germany, contributes to a broader European network, aimed at providing high-quality mechanically recycled content and adhering to regulations such as the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Both the Heanor and Steinfeld sites feature comprehensive recycling systems for converting flexible plastic waste into circular packaging materials.
These materials are used for collation shrink films for beverage multipacks, shrink films for tray-wrapped goods, and pallet stretch wrap films.
Each facility conducts in-house testing to guarantee quality, consistency, and traceability, assisting customers in meeting the UK's Plastic Packaging Tax.
The sites also have on-site water treatment systems, enabling water recycling and reducing environmental impact. They have achieved Zero Waste to Landfill certification from Valpak, as well as RecyClass certification.
Amcor sustainability operations and advocacy vice-president Gerald Rebitzer said: “Recycling flexible plastics at scale is essential for achieving circularity and ensuring supply chain resilience.
“These investments demonstrate our commitment to enabling high-performance packaging solutions with RecyClass-certified recycled content.”
Earlier this month, Amcor announced the expansion of its healthcare packaging network with a new warehouse and distribution facility in Costa Rica.
