Amcor, a global leader in packaging, is set to support a pioneering three-year plastic recycling project in Denmark, aimed at advancing circular recycling for food packaging. The initiative, named CRISP (Circular Recycling Innovation for Sustainable Packaging), focuses on developing a sustainable solution for recycling polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) food packaging materials from household collections.

The CRISP project is a collaborative effort co-funded by key stakeholders in the packaging industry, including major food manufacturers, waste management specialists, and the Danish Technological Institute. Amcor's contribution is particularly valuable, offering its technical expertise and recycling knowledge from its facilities in both the UK and Denmark, including the CleanStream technology, which specializes in transforming household waste into high-purity recycled plastics.

Why This Project Matters
As the global packaging industry grapples with environmental challenges, the CRISP project represents a critical step forward in advancing the circular economy for food packaging. The project focuses on creating food-grade materials from post-consumer recycled sources, a move that will not only reduce the environmental footprint of packaging but also help close the loop between production, consumption, and recycling.

Amcor's CleanStream technology plays a crucial role in this initiative, enabling the mechanical recycling of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) plastics from household waste. This technology allows for the creation of high-quality recycled plastic that meets the stringent requirements for food-grade packaging. By integrating these recycled materials into existing production processes, Amcor aims to significantly increase the supply of sustainable food packaging while reducing reliance on virgin plastic materials.

The Long-Term Goal
The long-term vision for the CRISP project is to establish a fully circular loop for food packaging, where used plastic packaging is collected, recycled, and returned as new packaging materials. A key aspect of this effort is ensuring the traceability of food contact materials throughout the recycling loop. By achieving this, the CRISP project hopes to create a new market for fully recyclable food packaging, using recycled polyethylene (rHDPE) and polypropylene (rPP), and contribute to the overall goals of reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions.

Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
As Christian Bruno, R&D Director for North-East Europe at Amcor, highlights, “Sustainable challenges require industry collaboration, and this partnership will demonstrate what can be done when the supply chain comes together. We are proud to be part of a project that could potentially have a significant environmental impact in Denmark and set new standards worldwide.”

Amcor’s involvement in the CRISP project is also aligned with Denmark’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, which encourages producers to take responsibility for the lifecycle of their packaging products, from design to recycling. The project is expected to provide incentives for more sustainable product design, supporting the transition towards circular plastic packaging solutions.

Key Benefits of the CRISP Project
The CRISP project promises several significant benefits to both the packaging industry and the environment:

• Recycling of PE and PP food packaging: The project is focused on developing scalable solutions for recycling common food packaging materials like polyethylene and polypropylene.
• Improved traceability: A key goal is to improve the tracking and traceability of food-grade materials in the recycling process, ensuring that recycled materials meet safety standards for food packaging.
• Enhanced sustainability: By using post-consumer recycled materials, the project reduces the need for virgin plastics, helping to lower the environmental footprint of food packaging production.
• Support for Denmark’s circular economy goals: The project aligns with Denmark’s broader goals of creating a more sustainable, circular plastic economy and reducing plastic waste.

The Future of Food Packaging Recycling
The CRISP project has the potential to reshape the future of food packaging recycling by offering scalable solutions that can be implemented in other regions globally. The focus on creating food-grade recycled packaging from household waste is a step forward in achieving a more sustainable and circular approach to packaging materials.

Looking Ahead
As the CRISP project progresses, Amcor plans to leverage its recycling expertise to demonstrate the business case for circular plastic packaging in food products. The project has the potential to influence global recycling practices, drive innovation in packaging design, and ultimately help meet the European Union’s ambitious sustainability targets, including those set by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

Amcor is committed to advancing circular packaging solutions and supporting the development of a sustainable packaging ecosystem, and the CRISP project represents a major step in this direction.