FILM RECYCLING | TECHNOLOGY
EU regulation is bearing down on the packaging industry in its move to circularity, leading to a surge in innovation for recycling film and flexible packaging. By David Eldridge
Helping film recyclers in Europe respond to PPWR
The clock is ticking in the implementation of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Following a transition period, the first phase of enforcement starting in August this year includes recyclable design of plastic packaging among its requirements. The first deadline for mandatory recycled content targets is 2030, which will come quickly for recyclers of plastic film and flexible packaging currently working to gear up their operations commercially, logistically and technically. Quality requirements for recyclate used in plastic packaging will rise significantly because of PPWR, said Leistritz and NGR when announcing a technology partnership last year to help recyclers meet PPWR’s demands. “From mandatory recy- cled content and extended producer responsibil- ity to material restrictions, the entire plastics value chain will be affected. Recycling must become more efficient, precise, and sustainable – this is precisely where the cooperation between NGR and Leistritz comes in,” said the companies (see
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
below for more on this partnership). Recycling technology suppliers are co-operating closely with film and flexible packaging recyclers, developing lines and equipment to increase production, improve product quality and optimise operations. Innovations deal with challenges that are particular to film recycling, such as the low density of input material which causes problems in feeding to the extruder. Many technology groups demonstrated their innovations in film recycling at K2025 in Dusseldorf, Germany in October. Starlinger Recycling Technology used the K Show as the launchpad for its new RecoStar Dynamic Art recycling system designed for post-consumer film recycling. The new system is said to be particularly suitable for heavily contami- nated post-consumer plastic waste that has a high moisture content due to storage or after washing, and produces high-quality regranulate that can be used in demanding applications. Paul Niedl, Commercial Head, said: “We have
January/February 2026 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 13
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