Biffa completes Esterform acquisition to form Esterpret for enhanced PET recycling

UK – Waste management company Biffa has fully acquired pre-form and bottle manufacturer Esterform, integrating its PET recycling operations under the new brand Esterpret. 

This move follows Biffa’s initial investment in the Worcestershire-based firm in 2023 and builds on a prior purchase of Esterform’s sister company, Esterpret, in Leeds.

The acquisition creates a complete supply chain for PET packaging, from collection to production. Biffa now owns Esterform outright, with facilities in Tenbury Wells, UK, and Morąg, Poland. 

Mark Tyne, Esterform’s founder, will continue leading the group. In a statement, Tyne described the deal as an exciting development that speeds up efforts to supply recycled PET materials. 

He noted that Biffa’s backing would help fulfill rising needs for eco-friendly packaging as the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) approaches in 2027.

Michael Topham, Biffa’s chief executive, highlighted the operational benefits. 

He explained that merging Biffa’s recycling assets with Esterform’s production skills delivers full circular solutions for PET packaging, timed for the DRS rollout on drinks containers. 

The scheme, delayed from earlier plans, will require handlers to manage higher volumes of returned PET bottles, pushing firms to scale up processing.

This partnership traces back to a 2022 agreement where Esterform committed to buying 6,000 tonnes of recycled PET annually from Biffa’s Seaham plant, certified for food-grade use by the European Food Safety Authority. 

Biffa’s separate plastics recycling in Redcar will operate as Biffa Polymers, led by managing director James McLeary.

The deal arrives amid broader pressures on the UK plastics sector. 

Operators have raised alarms over a potential breakdown in recycling systems due to weak demand and policy gaps.

Biffa recently called on the government to ban exports of raw plastic waste, aiming to keep more materials domestic for reprocessing. 

Such steps could increase local recycling rates, currently lagging behind EU averages at around 50% for PET bottles.

In related developments, the UK government announced US$150 million in grants last month to support advanced recycling technologies, targeting a 30% rise in PET recovery by 2030. 

Meanwhile, a European Commission report from September warned of supply chain risks if DRS implementations falter, urging member states to harmonize standards for cross-border PET flows.

Biffa’s expansion positions it to capture a larger share of the US$2.5 billion UK sustainable packaging market, projected to grow 8% yearly through 2030. 

The company plans to invest US$20 million over the next two years in upgrading Esterpret’s lines for higher throughput. 

Tyne added indirectly that the partnership preserves the team’s specialized knowledge, ensuring quick adaptation to client demands.

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