Strengthen Strategy! Amco Completes Upgrade of This Project

Amcor recently completed an upgrade to its recycling facility in Heanor, Derbyshire, UK. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted by local Member of Parliament Linsey Farnsworth, and Gerald Rebitzer, Amcor's Vice President of Sustainability Operations and Advocacy, also attended the event. This event was aimed at celebrating the company's investment in the UK's recycling infrastructure and its commitment to circular packaging.

XINOR's facilities contribute to the development of the circular economy in the UK by processing various types of post-consumer plastics and industrial soft plastic waste. Recent investments and upgrades to the quality and safety systems have significantly improved the stability and quality of recycled products, enabling an additional 2,800 tons of recycled material to be used in high-performance flexible packaging.

"Large-scale recycling of soft plastics is crucial for achieving circularity and ensuring supply chain resilience," said Rebitzer. "As the UK prepares to mandate kerbside collections of soft packaging by 2027, it is essential that we continue to strengthen recycling infrastructure to meet demand."

Xinnor's facility employs a complete recycling process – including sorting, grinding, washing, separating, and reprocessing – to convert suitable soft plastic waste into high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymers. These materials are used in Amcor's relevant applications for flexible packaging, such as non-contact sensitive industrial packaging, collated shrink films, and stretch films for pallet protection and stabilization.

On-site quality testing confirmed consistency, third-party recycling certification ensured traceability and compliance, supporting brands to meet the requirements of the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and to align with the expected increase in the use of recycled materials.

The factory is also equipped with a water treatment system that allows for water recycling during the reuse process, thereby reducing overall water consumption. The factory has obtained Valpak's Zero Waste to Landfill certification and holds RecyClass certification.

"This investment in Xynor reinforces Amcor's strategy to support circular packaging systems while helping customers meet evolving environmental expectations," Rebitzer added.

Hynor is an important center for Amco in the UK, and Amco's recycling capabilities extend to other locations in Europe, including its recycling center in Stanfield, Germany.