Berry Global’s UK recycling business has invested in upgrading its plastic packaging recycling complex in Derbyshire, which recycles flexible plastic waste including retail packaging such as carrier bags, bread bags, film wrapping, and plastic pouches.
Berry says this type of plastic is currently being collected via front of store bins at leading supermarkets, but capacity is expected to rise substantially in March 2027, when kerbside collection of flexible plastic packaging for recycling will become mandatory in England.
Apparently, the Berry Heanor recycling facility can recycle flexibles from household and industrial waste to produce high quality and consistent recyclate that can be used in a variety of industrial and consumer flexible applications, such as refuse sacks and collation shrink films. The facility has also been designed to reduce overall water consumption, as the water used during the recycling process is recirculated and reused.
According to Berry, the site holds RecyClass certification that confirms full traceability throughout the recycling and production processes, and is third party accredited through Valpak for Zero Waste to Landfill.
The company adds that its investment comes at a time when supermarket front of store soft plastic collection schemes are coming under increasing scrutiny, citing a recent investigation by Everyday Plastic and the Environmental Investigation Agency which found that around 70% of the soft plastic collected by these schemes ended up being burned for energy, rather than being recycled.
“Recycling soft plastic poses a challenge, particularly in terms of the quality of material collected, but at Berry we are continuing to work to make recycling of this material a reality through the creation of useful second life products,” said Mike Baxter, external affairs director for Berry Global Recycled Products.
The front of store soft plastic currently goes into the production of new refuse sacks, while other flexible plastic is used to produce the company’s Sustane recyclate, which goes back into packaging such as shrink film. “Importantly, our latest investment includes an upgrade to our wash plant, which will enable us to handle and clean a greater variety of poorer quality plastic packs,” Baxter added.
In June, the company revealed its rectangular HDPE bottle solution for the beauty, home and personal care sectors, available with up to 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. The 250ml Domino bottle is made from high-density polyethylene and is said to be fully recyclable where appropriate collection schemes exist.
Last month, Berry introduced its new standard bottle available in up to 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, aiming to unlock quick, low-cost customization at low minimum order quantities (MOQs) for personal care, home care, and healthcare products. Customers can choose from ten standard versions, or work with Berry’s designers to produce bespoke finishes via a quick-change tooling creation process.
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