Film manufacturer Manupackaging has established a close-the-loop system for plastic stretch film, which is used to secure pallets during transport. With a partner programme, the company provides incentives to collect and return used transport film so that Manupackaging can recycle it and process it into new stretch film.
Plastic stretch film is used to transport goods on pallets. It is necessary in order to Stabilise loads safely during transport and ensure maximum safety for people and products to guarantee the quality of our products. However, the packaging waste that this generates is not insignificant. As a manufacturer of transport films, Manupackaging wants to be a pioneer in terms of sustainability.
„We produce specially developed films with a recycled content, which can save 30 to 60 per cent of new plastic material. The recycled content is up to 60 per cent, of which 30 per cent is internal recyclate (from waste from our own production) and 30 per cent is external material that customers return to us.“
Massimo Moroni, Managing Director Manupackaging
With the partner programme, the company has now launched a close-the-loop system for plastic waste in the tertiary packaging sector. Dr Isabell Stolte, Head of Research, Development and Innovation at the company: „We are calling on companies to do this, to collect used stretch film by type, compact it on site and return it to us via recycling companies commissioned by us. The film is tested, regranulated and reprocessed into new stretch film with up to 60 per cent recycled content. In this way, we are establishing a genuine circular economy and significantly reducing packaging material.“ The project has already been successfully trialled with customer companies.
The use of resources such as energy, water and other raw materials is also lower with the reuse of recyclate than when processing new plastic granulate.
There are numerous advantages for the collecting companies: On the one hand, the return of the film is remunerated or, in the case of customer companies, provided with discounts in the double-digit range. It does not have to be film produced by Manupackaging; The company can also integrate films from other manufacturers into its recycling process. Companies that participate in the Close the Loop system improve their own sustainability statistics in the packaging and transport sector and demonstrate their commitment to the environment.
Another argument in favour of participation is the saving of storage space. Because if the stretch film is compressed, this results in significantly more storage space, which is usually scarce. The disposal costs for film waste are also reduced. Last but not least, films that contain at least 30 per cent recycled material can avoid the plastic tax that is already levied in some European countries, such as England and Spain.
The compacting machines required for compression can be leased or purchased cost-effectively with a volume contract for manupackaging.
Source: Manupackaging
