Greenback and Amcor transform waste into opportunity
Greenback Recycling Technologies has announced that its Enval advanced recycling module has been deployed for the first time in the United Kingdom. It will go through a six-month commissioning and trial phase at the facilities of global packaging leader Amcor in Heanor, Derbyshire.
This important move is the first time a major European packaging company has hosted Greenback’s modular chemical recycling technology.
The goal of the collaboration with Amcor is to demonstrate how modular recycling units may be co-located within already-existing industrial infrastructure, thereby advancing the circular economy. Since the module would mostly transform home post-consumer flexible packaging waste, its installation at Heanor will yield valuable insights for growing circularity.
Greenback’s advanced recycling technology is designed to process post-consumer flexible packaging, including multilaminate materials, and convert it into high-quality pyrolytic oil, suitable for producing food-grade plastics.
The entire recycling process will be verified using the eco2Veritas traceability platform. This software uses artificial intelligence and Internet of Things devices to capture all process data from the receipt of waste through to the production of pyrolytic oil. The oil carries digital certificate of provenance, which is passed onward in the value chain providing crucial data for mass-balance allocation as the oil is converted into recycled plastics.
“This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in driving scalable circular solutions,” said Philippe von Stauffenberg, CEO of Greenback. “Hosting this module at Amcor’s Heanor site will enable real-time feedback from global experts, as we refine our system for maximum impact before expanding further.”
The Heanor trials are expected to play a pivotal role in validating the commercial and environmental benefits of the process. If successful, Amcor has expressed interest in additional modules at Heanor or other Amcor sites. The Greenback technology could allow Amcor to eventually offer a fully circular solution for flexible packaging to its customers.
“We are excited to host this pioneering technology at our Heanor site,” said Andrew Green, vice president, Amcor Flexibles Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Combining Greenback’s innovation with Amcor’s operational experience enables us to improve circularity for soft plastics and help our customers make progress in achieving their own sustainability targets.”
The module is financed by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW). The trial marks a shared commitment among Greenback, Amcor and AEPW to addressing the world’s plastic waste challenge through innovation, infrastructure and partnership.
