Berry’s Recycled Solutions Continue to Focus on Quality
August 10, 2022
The introduction of the UK Plastic Packaging Tax has resulted in strong
demand for recycled solutions from Berry Global’s UK flexible films business.
The business is a major supplier of industrial and consumer packaging
solutions, producing a range of films, bags and sacks for a wide variety of
markets including food & beverage, agriculture, horticulture, chemicals,
healthcare, retail and construction.
In addition, Berry is also one of the UK’s leading recyclers of used plastic
packaging, with three vertically integrated recycling and re-manufacturing
factories. These recycle used plastics from a variety of sources including the
agricultural, industrial and retail sectors. All of the recyclate generated is
used to manufacture new polythene sacks, bags and films in Berry manufacturing
plants.
Berry has been preparing for the introduction of the Plastics Packaging Tax for
over two years. While the majority of its polythene films, sacks and bags used
to pack non-food items can already be manufactured with a minimum 30% recycled
content and thus avoid the tax, Berry has continually sought to further enhance
its recycling processes.
For example, Berry is spearheading the growth of other initiatives to encourage
the recycling of plastic film. Supermarket ‘Front of Store’ collection
initiatives – where customers are encouraged to return their used plastic
packaging for recycling – grew significantly during 2021. As a result, the company
has become one of the first recyclers to reprocess this waste stream and use
the recyclate to produce refuse sacks.
In addition, Berry has developed and launched its Sustane® range, a premium
quality shrink film containing 30 percent recycled content. This delivers high
levels of technical performance, allowing its use in a wide range of
applications where previously prime polymer was used.
Berry is also continuing to invest in its recycling capacities. The company
recently installed the first wash plant and recycling facility in the UK that
is able to recycle both flexible and rigid plastics.
“The increased use of recycled plastics is a key part of our Impact 2025
sustainability strategy and our move towards a circular and net zero economy,”
comments Mike Baxter, External Affairs Director, Berry Global Flexible Films
UK. “At the same time, it is vital that the recyclate is able to deliver the
same levels of quality and performance as virgin polymer.
“We will continue our sustainability leadership in the development and sourcing
of high-quality recyclate both to help our customers satisfy legislative
requirements such as the Plastics Packaging Tax and also meet their own
specific sustainability objectives.”