Jokey, Repsol and Cantero de Letur join forces on Spanish cheese packaging circular economy
05 Mar 2021 --- Rigid packaging specialist Jokey, Spanish multinational Repsol and Spanish organic dairy company Cantero de Letur are partnering on a circular cheese packaging initiative.
The agreement aims to promote ISCC Plus-certified plastic packaging in the Spanish market, complying with food safety requirements.
The Cantero de Letur Group will “pioneer” the use of recycled plastic packing in the Spanish organic dairy industry with its cheese products.
Manufactured by Jokey, the packaging will use ISCC Plus-certified Repsol Reciclex circular polypropylene (PP).
Repsol’s technologies to manufacture the circular resins provide a new life for plastic waste otherwise destined for landfill. The recycled resins reportedly boast the same quality and functionality as virgin resins, making them suitable for food contact.
In December 2017, the EU reached a preliminary agreement on plastic packaging recycling targets of 50 percent by 2025 and 55 percent by 2030.
Moreover, The European Plastics Pact has four main targets: Reusability and recyclability, responsible use, collection, sorting and recycling, and use of recycled plastics.
Certified circularity
In early 2020, Repsol certified all its petrochemical complexes to produce under the ISCC Plus accreditation.
Jokey received this certification in August 2020 at four production sites, including Spain. This certification stands for the use and traceability of recycled materials.
The EU is targeting 50% plastic packaging recycling targets by 2025.
“As we currently see the evolving market of new sustainable materials, the Repsol-Jokey-Cantero project is one of the first to pilot the purpose of demonstrating the long-term applicability of recycled plastics,” comments Michael Schmidt, chief procurement officer at Jokey.
“Real, working business and material flow models will attract more partners and drive segments and the plastics industry toward a circular economy.”
Recycling targets
Meanwhile, Fernando Arroyo, PP director at Repsol, says the new alliance allows his company to continue advancing toward its goal of recycling the equivalent of 20 percent of its polyolefins production.
“At Repsol, we are fully committed to the circular economy, having a circular economy strategy since 2016. That is why we aim to offer society materials that incorporate recycling, to make end consumers participants of a responsible and circular consumption without them perceiving changes in their quality,” he explains.
“[By investing in this technology,] we will meet the constant demand of our consumers for the creation of products and packaging with the lowest possible environmental impact," adds Pablo Cuervo-Arango, Cantero de Letur CEO.
PackagingInsights recently explored environmentally responsible packaging in the ever-popular cheese category.
In other Jokey developments, the German supplier invested €12 million (US$14.3 million) in constructing a new plant in Murcia, Spain. Construction work on the 30,000 sqm site began in February and is reportedly proceeding according to plan despite the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
Also, Jokey secured Swiss building materials retailer Haga as a customer for its recyclate buckets, consisting of at least 50 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic.
By Joshua Poole
