Coveris embarks on the next step of its ReCover journey with the opening of a pioneering recycling facility, the second in its portfolio. ReCover, Coveris’ new recycling business segment, is dedicated to closing the loop and keeping plastic circular. The new ReCover plant, located at Coveris’ site in Louth, Lincolnshire (UK), uses ground-breaking technology to recycle printed polyethylene (PE) films.
The dedicated ReCover facility within Coveris Louth’s PE extrusion and conversion site, uses an innovative de-inking recycling process where ink is removed from printed film packaging waste, which is then regranulated into high quality recycled PE resin, ReGen. Creating a new recycling infrastructure within the packaging industry, the two-year development of ReCover Louth’s capabilities produces a larger and more consistent supply of quality recycled resin, ReGen, for use in packaging film production. This achieves significant environmental benefits by reducing reliance on virgin raw material, eliminating waste and keeping plastic as part of a circular loop.
The facility comprises a ReCover Lab, a fully equipped laboratory to support innovation, quality control and validation of ReGen recyclate and its use in the extrusion of Coveris’ recycled content films.
With a long history of reprocessing, Coveris Louth’s printed film waste was previously recycled into building films. The development and introduction of ReCover Louth’s de-inking recycling capabilities allows printed film waste to be redirected into ReGen pellet production and upcycled into high performance non-food packaging including collation shrink films and tissue paper overwrap.
ReGen pellet will initially be used to fulfil requirements of recycled content within the Coveris Group and is compliant with the UK Plastic Packaging Tax, in addition to supporting UK Plastic Pact targets.
