UK recycling facility upgrades boost output of recycled flexible plastics

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, has completed significant upgrades to its recycling facility in Heanor, UK — a key milestone in its strategy to expand high-performance recycling infrastructure in Europe and support the transition to a circular economy.

The Heanor facility plays a vital role in converting post-consumer and industrial flexible plastic waste into high-quality recycled polymers, which are then used in Amcor’s flexible packaging applications across multiple markets. Recent investments — including the modernization of its wash plant and upgrades to quality and safety systems — have improved the consistency and quality of recycled output, enabling an additional 2,800 tonnes of recyclate to be used in high-performance flexible packaging applications.

Amcor also operates a recycling center of excellence at its Steinfeld facility in Germany. Together, these facilities form part of a larger cross-European network focused on delivering premium mechanically recycled content for flexible packaging while supporting compliance with legislation such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

Both Heanor and Steinfeld operate fully integrated recycling systems — including sorting, grinding, washing, separation and reprocessing — to convert flexible plastic waste into circular packaging materials for non-contact sensitive applications, collation shrink films for beverage multi-packs and shrink films for tray-wrapped goods such as canned goods and other FMCG products, as well as pallet stretch wrap films.

Each site maintains rigorous in-house testing to ensure quality, consistency and traceability — helping customers meet the requirements of the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and upcoming EU PPWR mandates.

Gerald Rebitzer, Vice President Sustainability Operations & Advocacy, said: Recycling flexible plastics at scale is essential for achieving circularity and ensuring supply chain resilience. These investments demonstrate our commitment to enabling high-performance packaging solutions with RecyClass certified recycled content.

The facilities also include onsite water treatment systems that allow water to be treated and recirculated, reducing environmental impact. Both sites are certified Zero Waste to Landfill by Valpak, with RecyClass certification underscoring Amcor’s commitment to transparency and industry-recognized standards.

The completion of the upgrades to Amcor’s recycling facility in Heanor, Derbyshire, were commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by local MP Linsey Farnsworth. The event celebrated a key milestone in the company’s investment in UK recycling infrastructure and commitment to circular packaging solutions.

This article was originally published by Amcor.