ALPLA is working with the NTCP technology institute on a solvent-based process at a pilot plant in the Netherlands.

According to its own statements, the globally active packaging and recycling company ALPLA is evaluating a patented process at the plant in Heerenveen, North Holland, together with the National Test Centre Circular Plastics (NTCP) as part of an innovation project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth. According to a statement from ALPLA, this is a solvent-based process which, after several years of research and development with successful laboratory results, is now being tested by the two project partners at the NTCP site in Heerenveen. The process for food-safe r-HDPE is to be scaled up to industrial level by 2030 in order to meet the targets of the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) for the minimum proportion of recycled material in food packaging. The PPWR stipulates that all food packaging made from materials other than PET must contain at least 10 per cent recycled material by 2030. The construction and operation of the pilot plant in Heerenveen is expected to provide important insights for scaling up the process. ALPLA has set up its own recycling company in the Netherlands for this purpose. According to the information provided, all process steps of the technology will be intensively tested as part of the project in order to ultimately achieve timely approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
 
Michael Heyde, Head of Technology Recycling Division at ALPLA, explains: ‘To date, there is no certified process in the EU for the production of food-grade HDPE recycled material. Our highly efficient technology for cleaning and processing post-consumer recycled material could be a real game changer.’ Martine Brandsma, CEO of NTCP, emphasises: ‘The collaboration with ALPLA fits perfectly with NTCP's core activities and mission as an independent knowledge institute that promotes and accelerates technology developments with leading players. We are convinced that new technologies are needed to completely close the plastics value chain while reducing the amount of waste.’
 
Sources:

• ALPLA press release (4.12.2025)
• Photo: © ALPLA