Waddington Europe will use food-grade rPET sourced from bottles, pots, tubs and trays to produce new rPET food packaging products at its Arklow production site in Ireland
Waddington Europe is set to purchase food-grade rPET from Shabra to manufacture new rPET food packaging products. (Credit: PRNewswire / Novolex)
European thermoforming packaging specialist Waddington Europe has joined forces with post-consumer waste (PCW) recycler and reprocessor Shabra to localise closed-loop packaging in Ireland.
Under the deal, Waddington Europe will purchase food-grade recycled PET (rPET) sourced from bottles, pots, tubs and trays to produce new rPET food packaging products at its Arklow production site in Ireland.
The deal enables Waddington Europe to expand its line of Eco Blend products made with post-consumer recycled content sourced domestically in Ireland back into the Irish market.
Waddington Europe managing director Eduardo Gomes said: “We need to start moving to a more holistic and long-term view when it comes to the lifecycle and environmental impact of food-grade packaging. It’s just as important to consider the carbon footprint at its start of life as the environmental impact at the end of its life.”
Waddington Europe’s’ Irish customers are expected to benefit from purchasing food-grade rPET packaging products, as they are produced from the localised approach.
Recently, Shabra invested in new sorting lines and a reprocessing facility to deliver intensively washed rPET flake for use directly into the thermoforming and packaging sector.
Shabra CEO Rita Shah said: “By keeping Irish plastic packaging waste in an Irish recycling system, we are confident that we can offer forward-thinking customers like Waddington Europe long-term savings, less reliance on foreign external suppliers, a positive public perception and increased customer loyalty.
“On a macro level, the localised economic model can increase jobs and innovation, the security of raw material supply and consumer savings, as well as reduce damaging pressures on the environment.”
Waddington Europe, a division of Novolex, is involved in the manufacturing of paper and plastic packaging and foodservice products.
In May this year, the company introduced a new rPET TamperVisible Hot Fill product line, which can withstand temperatures of up to 185 F° (85°C).