OUTER PLANET 54 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 03/25 www.petpla.net OUTER PLANET Schoeller Allibert and Coca-Cola Europacifi c Partners have developed a circular crate solution made from 97% recycled plastic From old tulip nets to a circular crate solution Schoeller Allibert, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, has teamed up with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and recycler Healix to take a further step towards a circular economy and sustainable reusable packaging. Schoeller Allibert’s Material Innovation department has developed a material mixture that allows the production of beverage crates made from 97% recycled plastic. This development is estimated to save 64% CO2 emissions in crate production compared to crates made from virgin plastic. CCEP Netherlands, committed to reducing its reliance on virgin plastic, already sourced the majority of its plastic from recycled materials. Now, the company has taken an additional step by ensuring its iconic red beverage crates, designed for returnable glass bottles, are manufactured following circular economy principles. The glass bottles are cleaned and refilled in the Coca-Cola factory in Dongen, Brabant, before returning to the Dutch wholesale and hospitality. This goes for all the company’s brands in returnable glass, amongst which Fanta, Sprite and Fuze Tea. Schoeller Allibert’s Material Innovation department developed an advanced material mixture that enables the production of these crates with 97% recycled plastic. This breakthrough is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 64% compared to using virgin plastic. With beverage crates having an lifespan of up to 30 years— this initiative represents a significant long-term sustainability effort. “These crates have an average lifespan of 15 years, and it’s not uncommon to find them still in use after 20 to 30 years,” says Eva Amsterdam, Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola European Partners. “However, if they do break down, they can now serve as input for new crates.” The recycled crates incorporate 85% old red beverage crates, including those from CCEP, and 15% plastic that is typically difficult to recycle. In this case, discarded tulip nets, collected and processed by Healix, have been transformed into valuable material for crate production. Schoeller Allibert has developed a recycling technology to integrate these challenging plastics into a durable and high-quality end product. “Although the majority of the recycled plastic utilised for the crates originates from general red recycling crates and not specifically from our crates, we have taken measures to ensure that the typical red remains discernible. This is achieved through a subtle ‘swirl’ effect in the colour. This reduces plastic waste during production.” states Julie De Bruyckere, Key Account Manager, Schoeller Allibert. The new recycled crates have been extensively tested at the Schoeller Allibert test centre in Hardenberg and found to be just as sturdy as the current ones. Marcel Alberts, founder of Healix, shares his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “It’s great to see how a large, international company like Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Netherlands is committed to sustainability and innovation and is looking for local support. By making new raw materials from discarded nets, we contribute to reducing plastic waste and creating valuable materials for new products that can last for years to come.” In 2024, the Dutch market gradually witnessed the introduction of 150,000 crates made from recycled plastic. Existing crates will continue to be in circulation until they are ready to be replaced by the new, recycled crates, as the transition progresses with each new crate purchase. The developed crate solution is currently being shortlisted in the Plastic Packaging Product of the Year category of the PRSE Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2025. www.schoellerallibert.com www.cocacolaep.com www.healix.eco The recycled crates incorporate 85% old red beverage crates and 15% plastic that is typically difficult to recycle; in this case, discarded tulip nets (photo: CCEP)
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