Amcor, Mondelēz invests in Australian recycling technology provider, Licella

AUSTRALIA – Packaging company Amcor and snack brand Mondelēz International have invested in the Australian advanced recycling technology business Licella.

The investments will support the construction of an advanced recycling facility in Victoria, Australia.

Named ‘Advanced Recycling Victoria’, the plant will leverage Licella’s Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor that utilizes advanced hydrothermal liquefaction technology.

By using heated and pressurized water, the technology converts end-of-life plastic into a crude oil substitute.

CEO of Licella, Dr. Len Humphreys, believes that leadership from industry is needed to help bring Australia closer to more sustainable plastic waste solutions that deliver economic and environmental benefits.

“This is the leading technology of its kind globally, and it was developed here in Australia. This investment will help advance our Australian facility at a time when demand for sustainable plastic solutions, that also help provide food-grade recycled content, is growing exponentially,” Humphreys added.

Initially, the new facility will have a processing capacity of 20,000 tonnes (t) of end-of-life plastics per year. The company plans to increase this to 120,000t annually in the future.

The investment will enable Amcor to address the growing demand for recycled content in the region and expedite its target to achieve 30% recycled content across its portfolio by 2030.

Amcor’s vice-president for Corporate Venturing and Open Innovation Frank Lehmann said: “Amcor is continually seeking opportunities to invest in new technologies that will bring long-term benefits to our customers, consumers and the planet.

“We recognize our products can play a vital role in the circular economy, and partnerships like this enhance our ability to deliver innovative solutions for our customers, like Mondelēz International.”

The investment will provide Mondelēz International with access to recycled content from the site to meet its soft plastic packaging needs in the country.

The food brand is aiming to remove unnecessary packaging and simplify packaging materials across its operations.

Mondelēz International’s senior vice-president and chief global impact and sustainability officer Christine Montenegro McGrat added: “This investment brings together multiple stakeholders in the supply chain to scale the infrastructure and technology needed to help create a more sustainable future for plastics and is part of our longer-term focus on working toward our goal of net-zero packaging waste by supporting circular economies.”

By 2025, Mondelez wants all of its packaging to be designed to be recyclable. It is targeting a 5% reduction in its use of virgin plastic and a 25% cut in virgin rigid plastic by the same, compared to a 2020 baseline.

For all the latest packaging and printing industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.