Closed Loop Recycling is opening a state of the art plant in the UK this week. They claim to be the first in the world to be able to convert used plastic containers back into food grade raw materials destined for new packaging. This closed loop process will be able to turn over a whopping 35,000 tonnes of PET and HDPE plastics a year. Industry insiders were skeptical that such a solution was feasible, but recent innovations in infrastructure and processing have made it possible. Companies are excited at the prospect of using recycled plastics that are locally sourced and produced.
The BBC reports:
Marks and Spencer is one customer which has already signed up for a third of Closed Loop’s output and the retailer has been pivotal in developing the market for food grade recycled plastic.
Dr Helene Roberts, head of packaging at M&S says the company has been using increasing amounts of recycled PET in drinks bottles, salad bowls and fruit punnets since 2004 but has had to source it abroad.
“We’ve not had access to a more local source of food grade recycled material so we are incredibly happy that they’re opening the first UK plant,” says Ms Roberts.
“At the moment 75% of UK plastics are sent off-shore for recycling in other countries. Yet we are desperate to get hold of more and more recycled material.”
[via BBC News]
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