Coveris unveils ReCover recycling facility in UK boosting PE packaging upcycling

07 Jun 2023 --- Coveris’ business segment ReCover has opened its second recycling facility for de-inking printed PE packaging films from post-industrial waste sources and regranulating them into recycled PE resin dubbed ReGen.

Located at Coveris’ PE extrusion and conversion site in Louth, UK, the new ReCover facility boasts a capacity to produce 5,000 metric tons of ReGen pellets annually. The ReGen pellet will initially be used to fulfill requirements of recycled content within the Coveris Group and is compliant with the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), in addition to supporting UK Plastic Pact targets, the company shares.

The facility also comprises a ReCover Lab to support quality control and validation of ReGen recyclate and its use in the extrusion of Coveris’ recycled content films. 

“There is an increasing demand for recycled PE resin, driven by a demand for more sustainable packaging, the introduction of the UK PPT and initiatives such as the UK Plastics Pact,” Christian Kolarik, CEO at Coveris, tells PackagingInsights.

“Through the development of ReCover Louth’s de-inking recycling plant, Coveris has created an extended life cycle for printed PE films and increases the availability of good quality resin for use in our film production, compliant with the UK PPT.” 

Reducing reliance
ReCover Louth uses printed waste feedstock and upcycles it into non-food packaging, including collation shrink films and tissue paper overwrap. “We have worked with our suppliers to develop exclusive de-inking recycling capabilities and technologies, allowing us to remove the ink as part of the recycling process,” informs Kolarik.Christian Kolarik, Coveris CEO with Mark Dalby, Coveris Louth managing director at the ReCover Louth opening ceremony.

“The de-inking capabilities of ReCover Louth are highly innovative. By removing the ink, the ReCover Louth process produces higher-quality resin and a larger, more consistent supply. This allows the ReGen recycled material to stay in the supply chain for longer and enables it to be upcycled for high-performance packaging applications, rather than down gauged.”

Coveris announced the launch of the closed-loop recycling business segment ReCover in December 2022, alongside the acquisition of a post-consumer waste mechanical recycling facility, now operating as ReCover Blaenavon. Through its capabilities at both ReCover sites, Coveris optimizes recycling post-industrial and post-consumer PE waste to keep plastic circular.

Supporting Coveris’ “No Waste” vision and wider packaging sustainability frameworks in the UK and EU, ReCover Louth aims to achieve environmental benefits by reducing reliance on virgin raw material, eliminating waste and keeping plastic part of a circular loop.

“When we started to develop ReCover, our ambition was to close the loop and introduce a new business model, establishing ourselves as a recycler with a clear leadership in technological know-how. With ReCover Louth, we opened the second facility, representing the next achievement milestone in our agenda”, comments Kolarik.

Innova Market Insights recently identified “Plastics circularization” and “Renewable rebellion” as top packaging trends for 2023.

By Radhika Sikaria