As part of its goal to eliminate virgin fossil-based plastic in all its crisp and chip bags by 2030, PepsiCo Europe is supporting investment to scale GreenDot’s recycling solutions and implement the recycled plastic waste into its snacks packaging.
GreenDot has sought to expand its sorting and recycling operations in Germany and has founded additional assets in Austria and Italy. Alongside its mechanical recycling capabilities, it has implemented advanced recycling into its portfolio in a bid to provide brands and converters with circular polymers.
The company aspires to lessen the environmental impact of packaging waste by keeping more materials in the loop – especially hard-to-recycle plastics that would otherwise be incinerated and contribute to climate change. Having previously acquired sorting and processing specialist Synextra, it intends to establish a network of sorting and recycling plants in Europe.
Mark Vester, EVP for Business Development and the German Business at GreenDot, says: “We are very happy with this new collaboration which now goes beyond EPR licensing and establishes a new business model and closes the loop between waste plastic and recycled content in packaging.”
“This agreement is an important milestone for the industry,” Laurent Auguste, CEO of GreenDot, continues. “It further paves the way towards a circular economy of plastic packaging, with the support of a new type of long-term collaboration between key players of the value chain.
“I wish to congratulate PepsiCo for their vision, leadership and for walking the talk, in line with their goal to increase the recycled content in their packaging and to reduce their carbon footprint. GreenDot will invest in developing plastic packaging to packaging recycling capacities, including advanced recycling of polyolefins, providing needed solutions at scale for the food industry.”
Archana Jagannathan, chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo Europe, adds: “The partnership is critical to scaling our operations and working together towards our shared goal of creating a circular economy for packaging. Advanced and mechanical recycling are part of a broader suite of recycling we are leveraging to bring us one step closer to this goal.
“Closing the loop between plastic and recycled content is a central part of our PepsiCo Positive agenda. We aim to reduce the waste we send to landfill in our direct operations and across our value chain.”
Currently, GreenDot is procuring and supplying plastic waste to be recycled and incorporated into PepsiCo, Amcor, and INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe’s 50% recycled Sunbites crisp packets. Launched in the UK and Ireland in late 2023, the pack apparently meets food performance requirements and adheres to EU regulations.
Similarly, sharing bags of KP Snacks’ Tyrrells crisps now contain 25% recycled soft plastics in an effort to reduce the brand’s reliance on soft plastics and align with the UK Plastics Pact. A green on-pack flash indicates to consumers that the packet contains recycled plastic.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
How are the top brands progressing on packaging sustainability?
The ultimate guide to global plastic sustainability regulation
No comments yet