Page 26 - Plastics News August 2022

Innovate UK’s Smart Sustainable Plastic whose BOSS polymer separation systems project.
Packaging Challenge (SSPPC). Fiberight will be integrated with Fiberight’s In terms of end markets and applications
has also secured £100,000 funding HYDRACYCLE technology to showcase for the recycled materials, multiple UK
from the Welsh Government towards a a holistic water-based separation process sectors will be targeted, including non-
£200,000 plastics R&D project aiming for the recovery and recycling of different food contact packaging, heavy gauge
to commercialise a near-to-market plastic types and packaging formats. refuse sacks, pipes and buckets, lumber
application for flexible plastics. Rigid plastics recycler Moulding and roadside furniture.
The UP project will establish and operate Solutions will be the key off-take partner Paul Davidson, Innovate UK’s Challenge
a commercial-scale demonstration for recycling the recovered rigid plastics. Director – Smart Sustainable Plastics
facility processing post-consumer plastic They will use plastics recovered from Packaging, said: “We are delighted to
packaging from mixed waste streams, the Swansea facility to complement offer funding to Fiberight and the project
such as reject material from Material their current supply in the production partners. Capturing and recycling plastic
Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and create of high-quality extruded pellets for packaging that otherwise would be sent
a new supply of recycled plastics to be use by UK manufacturers of products for incineration as part of a MRF reject
used in the economy. such as utilities pipes, wheelie bins and stream will help the UK to increase its
The Swansea facility will use feedstock packaging. plastic recycling rate and reduce the
from local MRFs, initially contaminated Ranela Recycling Services, a flexible environmental impacts associated with
MRF films and contaminated rigid plastic recycling specialist, will advise disposal. This large-scale demonstration
will prove if this technology is capable of
achieving that and at commercial scale.”
Nick Thompson, co-founder and
Managing Director of Fiberight Ltd,
added: “The UP project will showcase
the full value chain collaborating to
establish a new way of recycling plastic
packaging in the UK, capturing the
lost resources and realising significant
environmental benefits.
“It will play a key role in increasing
the recycling of plastics in the UK by
establishing much-needed infrastructure.
By 2028, we aim to increase the amount
of flexible plastics recycled in the UK by
300 per cent - compared to 2021 levels
of recycling.
plastics, before moving up to processing on product quality, recycling equipment “Ultimately, we are confident the
MRF reject materials. Capacity of the and routes to market for finished flexible project will showcase a game-changing
facility will be up to 60,000 tonnes per or film-based plastics products. innovation in the waste and recycling
year and in the long-term, the plant will The fourth partner, ProAmpac, a market industry, thereby enabling access to
create 40 jobs. leader in flexible packaging will provide finance for future commercial ventures.”
Project partners include Impact Recycling technical advice and support to the

26 PLASTICS NEWS August 2022