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Stora Enso and Tetra Pak want to enable the recycling of beverage cartons in the Benelux countries. To this end, the companies are conducting a feasibility study at the Stora Enso site in Belgium. A recycled cartonboard plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2025.
Stora Enso and Tetra Pak are jointly investigating a solution for the recycling of beverage cartons in order to minimise growing need for recycling in the Benelux countries and to meet the demand for recyclable paper-based packaging solutions. to fulfil the requirements. The joint feasibility study includes a plan for a comprehensive beverage carton recycling plant at Stora Enso's Langerbrugge site in Belgium.
The fibres would be processed at the Langerbrugge site, while the polymer and aluminium barrier materials would be recycled by a specialist partner. Around 75,000 tonnes of beverage cartons are placed on the Benelux market every year, a growing volume of which more than 70 % are already collected for recycling. There are currently No infrastructure for recycling beverage cartons in the Benelux countries. The collaboration between the two companies is intended to create a complete Recycling system for beverage cartons in the Benelux and neighbouring regions be created.
„At Stora Enso, we are constantly looking for ways to deepen our commitment to a circular packaging future. Driving the circular economy requires smart investments and collaboration with the right partners. By working with Tetra Pak, we can simultaneously create value, promote the circular economy and increase our competitiveness.“
Markku Luoto, VP LPB Aseptic and CUK, Stora Enso
Recycling through partnership-based cooperation
As part of this solution, Stora Enso would process the collected beverage cartons and recover the fibres. The recycled fibres would be used as a raw material for the production of recycled cartonboard at the Langerbrugge site, thereby creating a Fully recyclable solution is created. Tetra Pak would secure a recycling solution for polymer and aluminium materials processed by a dedicated partner.
The recycling project is linked to the feasibility study recently announced by Stora Enso on the possible conversion of one of the paper lines at the Langerbrugge site into a plant for high-volume recycled containerboard. This feasibility study is expected to be finalised in the first half of 2023. Following an investment decision, the recycled cardboard plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2025. The joint study with Tetra Pak will follow the same timetable. The planned recycling plant in Langerbrugge will initially be process an estimated 50,000 tonnes of recycled cardboard per year, although there is potential for an increase.
„With this joint initiative, we are emphasising our commitment to local recycling progress and improving infrastructure in the Benelux, a region with large volumes of collected beverage cartons. Stora Enso is a trusted and important partner that has the expertise and experience we need in fibre recycling. Together with Stora Enso, we have the potential to create a circular solution that will help us create a world where an increasing amount of carton packaging is collected and recycled and where we can minimise waste.“
Chakib Kara, Managing Director France & Benelux, Tetra Pak
Source: Stora Enso
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