Austrian packaging manufacturer Coveris has joined forces with British environmental consultancy Nextek to work on upgrading the mechanical recycling of flexible polyethylene and polypropylene films into high-quality food-grade recycled resins and films.

The goal of this collaboration is to produce high-quality food-grade recycled resin from polyolefin film waste (photo: Coveris).

Nextek's COtooCLEAN technology has recently been recognized by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW). This technology uses carbon dioxide to purify plastic film waste, which is then reprocessed to produce new food-grade film.

Currently, Coveris and Nextek are constructing a demonstration plant in the UK. According to the two companies, the plant will apply the COtooCLEAN process on an "industrial scale." In a joint statement, the companies also added that they plan to conduct extensive trials "to gather the data needed to meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate the technology to the industry. The ultimate goal is to globally promote this groundbreaking process, helping to solve one of the most challenging recycling issues."

Edward Kosior, Founder and CEO of Nextek, stated: "The COtooCLEAN technology has the potential to revolutionize the plastic film recycling industry. Since receiving the AEPW award, we have progressed from the prototype development phase to the food-grade compliance testing phase. The collaboration with Coveris is a crucial next step. Together, we will demonstrate this technology on a large scale and work towards achieving a circular economy for plastic films."

The collaboration with Nextek is Coveris' latest move in developing recyclable film technology. Last November, Coveris announced the addition of two new production lines at its Winsford facility in the UK. The company stated that its recyclable PE films can be used for packaging meat, fish, poultry, cheese, and baked goods.