In addition to proper waste disposal by consumers and an effective recycling process, an intact circular economy also requires extensive usage options for the recycled material. At SPIES, we work continuously on solutions for the use of recycling material. In the contact-sensitive sector, such as packaging for food, the use of such recycled material is currently extremely limited. For this reason, we make use of recyclate for some of our non-food products and we continue to expand the application areas for recycled materials.

As in every production process, the manufacture of injection-moulded plastic packaging produces defective units and we refer to these as scrap. A regional recycling company recycles this scrap for us in a closed process to prevent mixing with materials from other sources. We refer to this recycling material as PIR material (Post-Industrial Recycled) and, after carrying out numerous quality tests on this material, we use it for individual products that do not have direct contact with food.

Since it is much easier to trace the origin and the processing details of PCR material (Post-Consumer Recycled), it is much more feasible to use this material in some areas than is the case with PCR material. PCR material comes from packaging that has already been in the hands of consumers.

In the food area, recycling material must meet the highest standards and, as of now, these standards are not achievable for the relevant market volumes. If used food packaging is to be recycled in the future to produce new food packaging, then the circular economy must be further strengthened and the associated laws, technologies and processes must be driven forward. This can only succeed if all participants contribute – at SPIES we are already committed to this.