Loop and Suez unite on enhanced European recycling facility as rPET demand skyrockets

28 Sep 2020 --- Loop Industries, a leading innovator in sustainable plastics, and Suez, a leader in environmental services, are building the first Infinite Loop recycling facility in Europe. Infinite Loop is an enhanced recycling technology for producing virgin quality, food-grade recycled plastic.

“PET recovery and recycling rates are low in Europe, and consumers are expecting this to increase sharply. Large amounts of PET are not recyclable through mechanical recycling,” a Suez representative tells PackagingInsights. 

“Enhanced recycling enables the recycling of materials that are not recycled currently, such as multilayer film, trays, bier drums, strappings, carpets, clothing and airbags.”

Loop’s patented and proprietary low-energy technology enables waste plastic to be recycled an infinite number of times, with no quality degradation.

The Infinite Loop facility responds to growing demand in Europe from F&B and CPG companies committed to increased recycled content in their products and packaging.

In July, the European Council approved the implementation of a plastic tax starting January 1, 2021. The plan foresees a €0.80/kg levy on non-recycled plastic packaging waste, paid by Member States into the EU budget.

World’s largest enhanced PET recycling facility
Loop’s enhanced PET recycling facility is reportedly the largest globally, with the potential to produce the equivalent of approximately 4.2 billion food-grade beverage bottles.

The final site selection and engineering is expected to finalize by mid-2021.The facility can save an estimated 180,000 tons of CO2 annually, compared with virgin PET production from a traditional petrochemical process. These savings are equivalent to approximately 418,000 barrels of oil.

“Feedstocks for the facility will be sourced by Suez from its broad-based collection and sorting facilities, both from commercial and municipal waste,” the representative says.

The first Infinite Loop manufacturing facility will be located in Europe. The final site selection and engineering is expected to finalize by mid-2021, and the facility commissioned in 2023.

The partnership is focused on Europe, but opportunities in other geographical regions could emerge later, the companies indicate.

Europe leading the circular transition
According to Suez, Europe consumes approximately 5.5 million tons of PET plastic every year, less than 7 percent of which makes its way back into bottles.

“Highly convinced by the complementarity between mechanical and chemical recycling solutions, this innovative project with Loop will improve the economic and environmental performance of our industrial customers, but also contribute to sustainable resource management,” explains Jean-Marc Boursier, Suez Group COO.

“Europe is leading the charge against petroleum-based plastics: through tougher regulations and taxes, they are setting a global example on transitioning to a more circular economy,” adds Loop founder and CEO, Daniel Solomita. Infinite Loop is an enhanced recycling technology for producing virgin quality, food-grade recycled plastic.

“The Infinite Loop technology creates the infrastructure countries need to eliminate plastic waste and increase recycling rates. Loop’s expansion is tailored to our customers’ needs, allowing them to meet and exceed ambitious targets for recycled content in their packaging without having to compromise quality.”

Suez has nine dedicated recycling facilities in Europe, processed around 450,000 tons of plastic in 2019, and produced 150,000 tons of recycled polymers across the continent.

Facilitating Thailand’s ambitious recycling goals
In Asia and as part of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Suez built a recycling plant that turns plastic waste into circular polymers in Bang Phli district, near Bangkok. The plant contributes to Thailand’s 2030 target of 100 percent plastic recycling.

The Bang Phli plant will convert 30,000 tons per year of locally collected polyethylene film waste into high-quality post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR).

Last week, Coca-Cola European Partners announced that all plastic bottles across its core brands in Great Britain would be made with 50 percent recycled PET (rPET).

Also, Nestlé Waters UK partnered with leading waste management business Biffa to deliver 100 rPET in a closed-loop system.

By Joshua Poole