Amcor upgrades Heanor facility to enhance recycling capacity

UK – Amcor, a global packaging solutions company, has completed upgrades to its Heanor, UK recycling facility, increasing its capacity to produce an additional 2,800 tonnes of recyclate for flexible packaging annually. 

The enhancements support Europe’s transition to a circular economy by processing post-consumer and industrial flexible plastic waste into high-quality recycled polymers for various packaging applications.

The Heanor facility now features a modernized wash plant and upgraded quality and safety systems. 

These improvements enable the production of recycled polymers used in collation shrink films for beverage multipacks, shrink films for tray-wrapped goods, and pallet stretch wrap films.

According to Amcor, the facility operates a fully integrated recycling process, including sorting, grinding, washing, separation, and reprocessing. 

In-house testing ensures quality and traceability, helping customers comply with the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax.

Gerald Rebitzer, Amcor’s vice president of sustainability operations and advocacy, stated, “Recycling flexible plastics at scale is essential for achieving circularity and ensuring supply chain resilience.” 

The Heanor site, alongside Amcor’s Steinfeld, Germany recycling center, forms part of a European network designed to deliver mechanically recycled content compliant with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

Environmental and operational benefits

The upgraded facility incorporates on-site water treatment systems, allowing water recirculation and reducing environmental impact. 

Both Heanor and Steinfeld have earned Zero Waste to Landfill certification from Valpak and RecyClass certification, ensuring compliance with industry standards. 

These advancements enable Amcor to meet growing demand for sustainable packaging as the UK prepares for mandatory kerbside collection of flexible plastics by 2027.

In a recent development, Amcor announced a US$250,000 investment in circolution, a smart reusable food packaging start-up, as part of its Lift-Off initiative.

This investment aims to scale sustainable packaging solutions, complementing Amcor’s recycling efforts.

Earlier this month, Amcor expanded its healthcare packaging network with a new US$10 million warehouse and distribution facility in Costa Rica. 

This facility enhances Amcor’s ability to serve the healthcare sector with sustainable packaging solutions, further supporting its global commitment to circularity. 

By investing in advanced recycling and innovative partnerships, Amcor continues to address the rising demand for environmentally responsible packaging across multiple industries.

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