Nextek teams up Coveris to scale COtooCLEAN technology for food-grade recycled resins

UK – Recycling innovation company Nextek has joined forces with packaging manufacturer Coveris to accelerate the recycling of post-consumer polyolefin (PE and PP) packaging waste into food-grade recycled resins and films.

At the heart of this collaboration is Nextek’s award-winning COtooCLEAN technology, a pioneering waterless decontamination process designed to produce high-purity recyclate suitable for direct food contact.

The partnership marks a major step toward closing the loop on flexible plastic packaging, one of the most challenging materials to recycle due to its multilayer structure and contamination risks.

By combining Nextek’s proprietary process with Coveris’ industrial capabilities, the two companies aim to demonstrate the technology at commercial scale and prepare for global implementation.

A demonstration plant is currently under development in the UK. Trials will collect crucial data to meet food-contact regulatory standards and validate the process’s scalability.

According to Nextek, the goal is to achieve compliance and prove that the COtooCLEAN system can deliver consistent, high-quality food-grade recycled content from complex flexible films.

“COtooCLEAN has the potential to transform plastic film recycling,” said Professor Edward Kosior, CEO and founder of Nextek.

“Since winning the AEPW Circular Solutions for Flexibles award, we’ve moved from prototype development to food-grade compliance trials. Partnering with Coveris is the next big step. Together, we’ll demonstrate this technology at scale and work toward a circular economy for plastic films.”

Recognized for circular innovation

Nextek’s COtooCLEAN was recently awarded the Circular Solutions for Flexibles Award by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW).

Unlike traditional mechanical recycling methods, COtooCLEAN uses a dry, solvent-based cleaning system to remove contaminants. This enables the production of recycled polymers with the purity levels required for food applications, a key breakthrough in tackling post-consumer flexible waste.

For Coveris, the partnership builds on its growing focus on circularity through its ReCover recycling division, which is dedicated to improving the sourcing, processing, and reintegration of high-quality recyclate into its packaging solutions.

ReCover plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with tightening legislative frameworks and in meeting customer demand for packaging with recycled content.

Last month, as part of its sustainability Spotlight Series, Coveris showcased how ReCover is positioning the company as a leading force in plastics recycling across Europe.

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