Coveris propels flexible plastic circular economy with new mechanical recycling business

02 Dec 2022 --- Coveris is introducing a new business segment dubbed ReCover, which will combine its waste sourcing, processing and recycling operations for flexible plastic packaging.

The primary function of the new business is to expand Coveris’ recycling capacity and capabilities within films and other flexibles. The company believes that this new extension is “a game-changing process” for mechanical recycling that is unique within the industry.

“There is a need across Europe to significantly enhance advanced packaging waste reprocessing capacity in the coming years to meet sustainability targets and comply with legislation and taxation framework. ReCover forms part of the solution for our industry,” Jakob A. Mosser, CEO of Coveris, tells PackagingInsights. 

“With several high-impact projects in the pipeline, we aim to establish a stand-alone Business Unit in the next couple of years, entirely dedicated to the circular economy and closing the loop. ReCover is a platform for all mechanical recycling activities but also leads our developments to achieve food contact-compliant materials.”

ReCover will act as a separate company, supplying Coveris’ sites on “an arm’s length basis” while also selling to third-party customers. Coveris has an ambition to reduce g waste in all its forms and its new business unit supports this goal. 

ReCover is created as an extension of Coveris Films to provide recycled content to packagers. The ReCovery plan
Coveris’ CEO tells us that the company’s “commitment to sustainability, drive to No Waste and desire to create circular packaging solutions” is what led it to the creation of ReCover. 

“For most applications in packaging during the next years about 30% of virgin resin will be replaced with recycled materials. With ReCover we also want to secure our supply chain,” explains Mosser.

“We are on a journey of technical learning regarding processing recycled packaging and developing new products containing the reprocessed waste material that perform on the level of the previous non-recycling containing products.”

Coveris indicates that its new business “will provide higher and more consistent quality of recycled materials compared to what is currently available in the marketplace.” 

First stop Wales 
Coveris recently acquired the site and assets from Capital Valley Plastics (CVP) Blaenavon in Wales, UK. CVP is an established PE recycler, processing post-consumer and post-industrial waste via in-house mechanical recycling extruded mostly into building films.

“This new recycling acquisition marks a perfect start for our new company ReCover and our quest to continuously enhance our recycling offers to our customers, truly closing the loop and bringing us closer to our vision of no waste,” continues Mosser. 

The Blaenavon site is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art mechanical recycling technology, with an annual capacity of 20 metric kilotons.

“The acquired Blaenavon site and assets will serve as an important recycling hub for Coveris’ Films and Flexibles operations, closing the loop for customers and our film production across the network,” he concludes.Coveris creates ReCover to meet industries' recycled material demands. 

Coveris and circularity
At FachPack 2022 in Nuremberg, Germany, Coveris gave lectures on waste reduction based on a material hierarchy, illustrating that energy analysis should be the focal point of packaging companies looking to improve their environmental footprint. 

Coveris’ president of films business, Martin Davis, previously told PackagingInsights that the UK Plastic Packaging Tax is driving industry demand for recycled plastic film products and that it will be boosted by implementing Extended Producer Responsibility legislation. 

“The introduction of the tax this year has further incentivized the use of films with recycled content, driving behavior change in the industry and increased engagement throughout the supply chain from procurement, product development and manufacturing to retail, waste and recycling infrastructure,” he said.

Coveris has also been expanding its business into the pet food packaging sector. Recently, it has supplied Irish Dog Foods, C&D, Ultra Premium Direct and Demavic while supporting circularity.

“Monomaterial plastic packaging is in great demand as it guarantees the same conservation properties of kibbles and ensures a similar machinability on the packaging lines,” Eric Valette, business unit innovation director at Coveris, told us.

By Sabine Waldeck