NEWS IN BRIEF...


Eastman says it has achieved on-spec initial production and is generat- ing revenue from its new molecular recycling facility in Kingsport, US. It expects to ramp up production over the coming months. www.eastman.com


An investor group led by private equity firm Arsenal Capital Partners has acquired Indiana-based Polywood, a vertically integrated manufacturer of recycled HDPE outdoor living products, from Mayfair Capital Partners. www.polywood.com


Nextchem subsidiary NextChem Tech has been selected as engineering and technology partner for a new plastic recycling project to be implemented by Aliplast in Modena, Italy. When fully operation- al, the plant will process up to 30,000 tonnes/yr of rigid polyolefin waste. www.nextchem.it www.aliplastspa.com


Borealis has completed the acquisition of Bulgar- ian chemical recycler Integra Plastics AD first announced in November 2023, adding more than 20,000 tonnes/yr capacity. www.borealisgroup.com


Plastics Europe reports progress in circularity


Plastics Europe has pub- lished the latest edition of its biennial report The Circular Economy for Plastics: A European Analysis which provides an overview of European plastics production, conver- sion, consumption, and waste management. The study’s central finding is that circular plastics now account for 13.5% of new plastic products manufactured in Europe, placing the system halfway towards its target of using 25% of plastics from circular sources in new products by 2030. In total, 26.9% of Euro-


pean plastics waste is now recycled, meaning that for the first time more is recycled than put into landfill. However, to meet demand there is a need to upscale the collection and


Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe


sorting of post-consumer plastics waste and increase the availability of biomass and captured carbon. The report also highlighted several major obstacles, including growing rates of incineration. Virginia Janssens, Manag-


ing Director of Plastics Europe, said: “Our latest Circular Economy for Plastics report provides


essential insights into the transition of the plastics system. Whilst the data confirms the shift to circular- ity is firmly established and picking up pace, it is frustrating that we still incinerate so much plastics waste when this potential feedstock is desperately needed by our industry to accelerate the transition.” She said that without


urgent action to increase the availability of circular feedstocks for plastics the EU cannot maintain the current rate of progress towards meeting its Green Deal goals. “The European plastics system is too big, complex, and interconnected for any part of it to successfully deliver a competitive, circular, and net zero system alone,” said Janssens. � www.plasticseurope.org


Berry boosts flexibles recycling


As part of a pan-European project to expand produc- tion of its Sustane range of recycled polymers, Berry Global’s Flexibles division has increased capacity at plants in Heanor, UK, Steinfeld, Germany, and


Zdzieszowice, Poland. This expansion will


increase the amount of recycled plastic produced across Berry’s European sites by approximately 6,600 tonnes/yr and will increase the quality of the recyclate


used across its flexible film solutions, it said. Many of the products


produced at Berry’s Euro- pean films facilities now contain more than 30% recy- cled content. � www.berryglobal.com


RecyClass to extend guidelines to WEEE


Following the successful implementa- tion of its Design for Recycling Guide- lines and Recyclability Evaluation Protocols for the packaging industry, industry initiative RecyClass is set to extend its scope to plastic components


6


used in electrical/electronic (E/E) and automotive applications. The move is due in part to EU regulation plans. Paolo Glerean, Chairman of Recy-


Class, said: “RecyClass is poised to drive innovation within the electrical,


PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | May/June 2024


electronic, and automotive industries with the support of the entire plastic value chain. Our focus will be on polymers including PS, ABS, PP, and PE, among others.” � www.recyclass.eu


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


IMAGE: PLASTICS EUROPE


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