PACKAGING | INNOVATION


The rush to recycle rigid polyolefins


The need to meet PPWR deadlines for the use of recycled content in packaging has sparked innovation in the PP and HDPE value chain. Laura Florez reports on new developments


The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regula- tion (PPWR) introduces binding minimum quotas for the use of recycled content in packaging. Starting in 2030, plastic packaging for food or cosmetic products that is not made from PET must contain at least 10% post-consumer recyclate (PCR), and these materials are strictly to be derived from used packaging. From 2040, this content will rise to 25%. The biggest challenge, however, is that these volumes are not yet available in the market. And the requirements to produce these materials are demanding. Even though the technology is already there, the approvals required by the authorities (such as EFSA in Europe and FDA in the US) may extend over several years, and the sorting and decontamination technologies demand significant investments. All this under an atmosphere where the recycling industry is undergoing mounting pressure, due to volatile prices, weak current


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demand and high energy costs. A great deal of innovation has seen the light in the past twelve months to overcome this challenge. Several efforts prove that circularity is achievable for PP and HDPE in rigid packaging, even in food and contact-sensitive applications. In August, Austrian recycling technology manufacturer Erema presented its financial year results. During the press conference, the company highlighted that this is the third year where the plastics recycling market finds itself under consid- erable pressure, having to cope with high energy costs, lack of demand for recyclates and intense international competition. According to Manfred Hackl, CEO of the Erema Group, “In Europe we have created a cost structure that puts industrial companies at an increasing disadvantage in the international marketplace.” According to Hackl, the key to a further expan-


September 2026 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 13


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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