Europe's first certified sorting plant for food-grade recycling
Swedish Plastic Recycling (Svensk Plaståtervinning) has become the first company in Europe to receive the new Sorting Process Certification from RecyClass for its Site Zero plant.
6 November 2025
An independent audit confirms that the plastic waste is sorted in such a way that it can be reused for food contact. (Image: Swedish Plastic Recycling)
Swedish Plastic Recycling is the first company in Europe to receive the new RecyClass certification for sorting plastic waste that can be recycled into food-grade recyclate.
In a decisive step for the plastics recycling industry, Swedish Plastic Recycling (Svensk Plaståtervinning) has become the first company in Europe to offer a new recycling solution with its Site Zero plant. received the new Sorting Process Certification from RecyClass. The independent audit by the Ecogrant certification body confirms that the Plastic waste must be sorted in such a way that it can be demonstrably reused for food contact. The Sorting processes comply with the requirements of EU Regulation No. 2022/1616 for recycled food contact materials.
Pioneering role in traceability and quality
The certification attests to the complete traceability of the material used. from collection to sorting and processing. The plastic waste material used comes exclusively from Separate collection from households and municipalities, which is a prerequisite for use in the food sector under EU law.
(Image: Swedish Plastic Recycling)
„This certification shows that our processes already fulfil the upcoming requirements of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This is a decisive milestone, especially for food contact applications.“
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Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Swedish Plastic Recycling
Open-technology further development for PE and PP
The plant is currently focussing on PET bottles, PET trays and PS packaging, that can be recycled in food-grade quality. As part of the CRISP (Circular Recycling Innovation for Sustainable Packaging) research project, we are also investigating how future Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) can be prepared in a food-safe manner.
Since 2018, Swedish Plastic Recycling has been a pioneer in transparency and process control. The internal traceability policy is reviewed annually by external audits - on a voluntary basis. „Without full control, there is a risk of materials being handled improperly or falling into the wrong hands,“ says Philipsson. Europe-wide certification would finally bring uniform standards and more trust in the recycling market.
(Image: Peter Holgersson AB)
Standardised EU benchmark for sorting plants
The new Sorting Process Certification from RecyClass is explicitly aimed at sorting companies and waste dealers. The aim is to establish standardised requirements at European level in order to ensure high-quality, controlled recyclate streams for the circular economy.
With its successful certification, Site Zero has taken on a key role - as a Model company for transparent, high-quality recycling of plastic packaging with a view to future regulatory requirements and sustainability targets.
