Keeping it local: Waddington Europe and Shabra form recycled PET partnership in Ireland

02 Sep 2021 --- Waddington Europe, a European thermoforming packaging specialist and division of Novolex, is partnering with Shabra, a leading Irish recycler and reprocessor of post-consumer waste, to secure a long-term supply of food-grade recycled PET (rPET). 

Shabra recycles PET bottles, pots, tubs and trays at its Arklow production site to manufacture new rPET food packaging products.

The agreement provides Waddington Europe with a reliable rPET supply and enables it to expand its line of Eco Blend products made with post-consumer recycled content sourced domestically in Ireland.

“Collectively, we hope these new agreements will advance our stake in localized plastics circularity in the Irish market,” comments Eduardo Gomes, Waddington Europe’s managing director.

“We need to start moving to a more holistic and long-term view when it comes to the lifecycle and environmental impact of food-grade packaging. It’s just as important to consider the carbon footprint at its start of life as the environmental impact at the end of its life.”

Shabra’s recycling investments
Shabra recently invested in new sorting lines and a reprocessing facility, providing intensively washed rPET flakes to the thermoforming packaging sector.

“We are very much committed to sustainability and a circular economy and all the benefits that go with them,” outlines Rita Shah, Shabra’s CEO.

“By keeping Irish plastic packaging waste in an Irish recycling system, we are confident we can offer forward-thinking customers like Waddington Europe long-term savings, less reliance on foreign external suppliers, a positive public perception and increased customer loyalty.”Shabra invested heavily in new sorting lines and a reprocessing facility, providing food-grade rPET flakes to the thermoforming packaging sector.

“On a macro level, the localized economic model can increase jobs and innovation, the security of raw material supply and consumer savings, as well as reduce damaging pressures on the environment.”

Shah adds that Shabra has big expansion plans for 2022 that will allow it to double its output.

Localized circularity benefits
Waddington Europe indicates its Irish customers will also benefit from purchasing food-grade rPET packaging products produced through this localized model.

“Our customers are beginning to realize if they develop these circular supply chains, they can reduce manufacturing costs and provide consumers with more sustainable products,” explains Gomes.

“Additionally, governments are noticing how local recycling and closed-loop economies generate revenue and drive local job creation.”

In May, Waddington Europe, a division of Novolex, augmented its TamperVisible range of protective packaging to include a high-clarity recycled rPET Hot Fill option.

Surging rPET demand
The EU Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) is incentivizing increased demand for rPET. The EU SUPD stipulates incorporating 25 percent recycled plastic in PET beverage bottles from 2025, extending to 30 percent in all plastic beverage bottles from 2030.

The EU legislation also requires a 77 percent separate collection target for plastic bottles by 2025, increasing to 90 percent by 2029.

Ermis Panagiotopoulos, sustainability director at Natural Mineral Waters Europe(NMWE), recently told PackagingInsights demand for food-grade rPET is high and outstripping supply.

In July, NMWE, the European Fruit Juice Association and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe urged the European Commission to provide the non-alcoholic beverage industry with “priority access” – or a similar mechanism guaranteeing “right of first refusal” – to rPET in the upcoming revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.

By Joshua Poole