ALPLA tests on patented solvent-based process for food-safe rHDPE
ALPLA and independent technological institute NTCP have collaborated on evaluating a patented solvent-based process for food-safe HDPE recycled material at a pilot plant in Heerenveen, Netherlands. The innovation project, which is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth, will run for four years.
The NTCP site in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
The ALPLA and NTCP project team.
Michael Heyde (left), Head of Technology Recycling Division at ALPLA, and Martine Brandsma, NTCP’s CEO.
The solution will be scaled up to industrial production for PPWR 2030, of which the regulation required that from 2030, packaging in the EU must contain a minimum proportion of recycled material.
Intensive testing of all process steps of the patented technology will be performed as part of a collaborative innovation project. The aim is to obtain approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the near future.
The construction and operation of the pilot plant will provide valuable insights for scaling up the process. ALPLA has set up its own recycling company in the Netherlands for this purpose.
ALPLA is launching a pilot project for the production of food-grade HDPE recycled material together with research institute NTCP.
"To date, there is no certified process in the EU for the production of food-grade HDPE recycled material. Our highly efficient technology for cleaning and processing post-consumer recycled material could be a real game changer," explains Michael Heyde, Head of Technology Recycling Division at ALPLA.
ALPLA has already produces PET and HDPE recycled material in its own recycling division at 14 locations worldwide, with 400 000 tons installed and projected recycling output capacity. The company processes most of this material itself into packaging. The future industrialization of this innovative technology should enable readily available food packaging made from rHDPE for the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) market.
"This cooperation with ALPLA fits perfectly to the core activities and mission of NTCP as an independent knowledge institute, to facilitate and accelerate technology developments with frontrunner parties. We believe that new technologies are needed to completely close the plastics value chain while reducing the amount of waste," emphasizes Martine Brandsma, NTCP’s CEO.
