Global initative to make plastic packaging out of waste

A new global initiative has been launched to address the need for packaging to be made from recycled waste. 

PolyLoop, which has been created by global retail solutions provider Mainetti, is a clear polythene recycling process that will provide customers with a closed-loop recycling system.

Polythene is the most common plastic, it is estimated that over 100 million tonnes of polyethene resins are produced annually, accounting for 34% of the total plastics market.

Polyethene is used in several packaging items including bottles, food packaging, crates, trays and industrial bulk containers.

The global network of recycling operations will mean that consumers can benefit from a circular economy and suppliers can use polythene that contains 30% post-consumer recycling scrap.

This announcement comes after the UK government announced plans in the Budget last week (March 11) to impose a ‘plastic packaging tax,’ charging manufacturers and importers £200 per tonne of packaging made of less than 30% recycled plastic by April 2022.

Mainetti has said that PolyLoop will support the government’s aims of boosting the use of recycled plastics by 40%.

Testing has been done on the recycling process over the past 18 months and the first industrial-scale processing line will come into operation in the UK in July 2020.

Keith Charlton, chief operations officer at Mainetti said: ‘Mainetti has been committed to supporting our clients and partners with reuse, recycling and other environmental initiatives since the 1960s.

‘We recognise this move is needed to accelerate the changes we all need to make if we are to reduce carbon emissions in line with the commitments made in the Paris Accord, however, we are also aware of the challenge this brings our retail clients in an already tough market environment.’

‘To assist customers with accurate reporting, we are also able to provide customers with transparent and auditable process traceability through the RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) compliance scheme.’

In related news, a report published in January by think tank Green Alliance revealed that sustainable packaging may be worse for the environment than plastic.

Photo Credit – Pixabay