Using advanced recycling technologies, the site will have the capacity to recycle any plastic used in Sweden using entirely renewable energy, making the country’s plastic economy completely circular. 

Located in the city of Molata, construction is expected to conclude in 2023. It will expand an existing facility, which the company says is already the “most efficient on earth.” 

“We are doubling our capacity and will be able to handle 200,000 tons of plastic packaging per year. This creates the conditions needed for receiving and eventually recycling all plastic packaging from Swedish households,” says Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Swedish Plastic Recycling.

“The investment creates the prerequisites needed for making Sweden a world leader in plastic recycling. Being able to do it together with our producer customers and owners, who consist of large parts of the Swedish business community, is very inspiring.”

Tackling all plastic types 

Currently, the facility recycles four types of plastic; once construction is complete, it will have sorting capacity for 12 types: polypropylene (PP), HDPE, LDPE, PET tray, PET bottles (colored and transparent), PP film, EPS, PS, PVC, two grades of Polyolefin mix, metal and non-plastic waste.

Any small parts of plastic that remain after the sorting process will be separated and sent to chemical recycling or become new composite products. Zero packaging will go into incineration.

“There is today no other facility in the world that has that capability,” asserts Phillipson. 

“We are also preparing for washing and granulation of the plastic in phase two, which is planned for 2025. Then our entire plastic flow in Sweden can become circular.” 

Any materials or rare types of plastic that are unable to be recycled at the facility will be sent to a Carbon Capture Storage, which prevents carbon emissions produced during incineration from entering the atmosphere. There are further plans to run the facility using solar panels. 

Advances in advanced recycling 

PackagingInsights recently sat down with Susan Hansen, global strategist for F&A supply chains at Rabobank, to discuss recent developments in advanced or chemical recycling technologies and what they could hold for the future of plastic waste management. 

She explained that Rabobank has seen a “huge amount of activity” in advanced recycling since 2019. According to the bank’s estimates, there were around 70 plants installed worldwide in 2020, with approximately 1.1 million tons of capacity.

However, Hansen emphasized that chemical recycling should not be seen as a “silver bullet” to the limitations of mechanical methods. 

Even if all the global advanced recycling projects recorded are actually completed, there would be a doubling in the number of plants and around three or four times the capacity there is today. However, this would only mean 140 plants on earth, which would be a maximum of about four million tons of capacity. 

The UN estimates roughly 300 million tons of plastic waste is produced each year globally. 

Bioffex™ technology combines a proprietary manufacturing process with plant-based raw materials to create a new foam insulation that is composed of 100% renewable components.

This change from traditional expanded polystyrene (EPS) to Bioffex™ technology, which meets ASTM D6400-19 standards for industrial compostability, will foster a reduction in oil and water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste in landfills traditionally seen in cold chain shipping. The Bioffex™ technology allows packaging, such as the Envirocooler™ insulated shipper, to break down and blend back in with the earth in less than three weeks, further reducing environmental impact.

In addition to its renewable attributes, the Envirocooler™ insulated shipper with Bioffex™ technology delivers performance comparable to traditional EPS foam shippers, offering protection of payload with reliable temperature control. This technology meets strict shipping specifications for temperature-sensitive products while providing an environmentally responsible solution – a perfect combination for companies seeking sustainable alternatives that reduce waste and impact on the environment while upholding stringent performance standards.

“We are excited to see this product take off and for the positive impact it will have as we replace traditional EPS foam with a technology that is made of renewable and bio-based materials and will degrade in under three weeks” said Mark Gettig, President of LifeMade.

The Envirocooler™ insulated shipper with Bioffex™ technology requires little to no changes in shipping operations, making a switch to this sustainable alternative seamless for most existing cold chain distribution channels. “Companies can expect the same performance, reliability, quality, and usability of traditional EPS while reducing their environmental footprint,” Gettig said.

Stemming from a rich history with foam material, LifeMade and Lifoam of parent company Jadex Inc., remain a market leader by continuously providing customers with the convenience and quality they value and expect for their medical, commercial and recreational needs.

“Sustainability has remained a priority in the packaging industry throughout 2020, even as demand for packaging safety has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brad Hansen, president of Presto’s Specialty Products businesses. “This year at PACK EXPO Connects, we will demonstrate the importance of both safety and sustainability in packaging while sharing products and programs that brands can use to enhance their current green initiatives.”

The Fresh-Lock team will feature closures from its expanded Fresh-Lock 8000 series. The 8000 series was developed to provide brands with a line of sustainable closures for flexible packaging. New product highlights from the 8000 series include Fresh-Lock Zipper Top, Fresh-Lock child-resistant zipper, and Fresh-Lock Triple-Lock zipper. These closures offer recyclability and enhanced package reclosability ideal for the meat, pharmaceutical, lawn and garden, and pet industries respectively.

In addition to the 8000 series expansion, the Fresh-Lock team has developed new closures that will advance the brand’s presence in the meat and produce markets. Fresh-Lock style 345 is a thermoform zipper engineered for processed and sliced meat packs; its design helps to prevent leakage once the package is opened and resealed. Fresh-Lock style 375 string zipper has high package-side holding strength and low consumer-side holding strength that allows for usage across many applications.

On Monday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. CST, Todd Meussling, Fresh-Lock senior manager, market development, will present “Packaging as an Ally: Sustainable Considerations In The Evolving Normal.” This Innovation Stage seminar will discuss the shifting perceptions of plastic, the importance of plastic management and education in sustainability initiatives.

The Fresh-Lock team will utilize the brand’s first-ever virtual market at PACK EXPO Connects. Guests of the virtual market will be greeted by avatars of Fresh-Lock experts, including Brad Hansen. Access to the market will begin at the start of PACK EXPO Connects through guided tours.

For additional information about Fresh-Lock closure solutions and initiatives, visit PACK EXPO Connects. To request an innovation kit or schedule a tour of the Fresh-Lock virtual market

The new segment is designed to help specifiers, converters, compounders and buyers search, filter, collaborate, request samples and quotes, and purchase everything from raw materials to compounded products in one place. 

Knowde’s plastics for packaging segment offers an array of vinyl polymers, polyolefins, polyamides, styrenics, polyesters and copolyesters, pigments and colorants from hundreds of producers. 

“From protecting the food that we eat to creating tamper-proof safeguards for medical and pharmaceutical applications, plastic packaging materials play a vital role in the production of the bottles, bags, shrink wrap, stretch film, blister packs and clamshells that consumers use every 

 day,” says Dan Haas, chief commercial officer at Knowde. “Plastic packaging is often considered to be the most recyclable, sustainable alternative among packaging material options.” 

Knowde’s search capabilities enable users to explore materials by chemistry, application, function, technical properties and more. Additionally, KnowdeConcierge is designed to provide access to expert advice and insight on all manufacturer, brand and product pages, and ensures prompt replies to inquiries. Signup is free for R&D and procurement professionals. 

For plastics packaging materials producers, a Knowde says its storefront offers everything they need to move online quickly and meet the new needs of customers who want a better online buying experience. Knowde offers providers targeted digital marketing tools to build storefront traffic and analytics to support data-driven decision making.