Smurfit Kappa has announced that it plans to set up the first beverage carton recycling plant in the Netherlands in association with HVC and Bluemats.
The new facility will be equipped to split and sort the components of the drinks cartons - plastic, aluminium, and paper - for recycling.
Single-use coffee cups, which also have multi-layered materials, are also included in the scope of the plan, the packaging giant said.
'State-Of-The-Art Installation'
Vice-president of paper technology at Smurfit Kappa, Henk Hoevers, said, "Together, our three companies plan a state-of-the-art installation that can deal with this specific multi-material reject stream. Using all three separated streams of paper, plastic and aluminium for further recycling is unique.
"This plan is very much in line with the circularity that embeds all our operations and aligns with our Better Planet Packaging initiative which seeks to reduce packaging waste."
More than half of the beverage cartons used in the Netherlands are incinerated or disposed of in general waste channels, while the remainder is exported to other countries for recycling.
The Collaboration
In addition to Smurfit Kappa's long-term expertise in paper-recycling installations, the project will benefit from HVC's sustainable waste collection experience.
Circular economy solutions provider, Bluemats will be responsible for handling and separating the plastics and aluminium.
Dennis Froeling, Business developer at HVC, added, "At this time, multi-layered cartons are being recycled elsewhere in Europe, mainly in Germany.
"We would like to ensure that the multi-layered cartons that come from our sorting centre in Heerenveen and from SUEZ in Rotterdam are being recycled in the Netherlands. By doing this we are connecting the entire chain from collection, to transport through to the sorting and processing of raw materials."
The final decision regarding the future of the new facility will be taken in the next six months, Smurfit Kappa added.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
