Sour cream cups with recycled polystyrene launched in German retail

Sour cream cups containing 30% recycled polystyrene have been introduced in ALDI SÜD stores across Germany, marking a step forward in the wider use of circular packaging solutions. The development is the result of a collaboration between ALDI SÜD, Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller, and INEOS Styrolution.

The new packaging has already received industry recognition, securing a German Packaging Award 2025 in the “Sustainability: recycled content” category. The product represents the second commercial rollout of food-grade recycled polystyrene by INEOS Styrolution with a major German retailer.

The launch comes as the European packaging industry prepares for tighter requirements under the forthcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). INEOS Styrolution has submitted an application to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for its recycling process, aiming to demonstrate compliance with food safety standards.

Rob Buntinx, President EMEA, said: INEOS Styrolution is turning the promise of recycled polystyrene into a practical reality. We’re proving that circular solutions can meet both food safety standards and performance demands. We’re calling on the entire value chain to join us in making circularity the new normal.

According to the company, multiple food-grade applications using recycled polystyrene are already available, with additional products planned. The initiative is positioned as part of a shift away from single-use plastics towards scalable circular solutions that support carbon reduction and regulatory goals.