Svensk Plaståtervinning is a key player in a pioneering Danish research project that has the potential to transform the future of food packaging. The project, known as CRISP (Circular Recycling Innovation for Sustainable Packaging), aims to enable the recycling of plastic packaging from the food industry – such as ketchup bottles, yoghurt pots and ice cream tubs – into new food-grade packaging. Through this project, an efficient and sustainable solution for recycling PE and PP plastics in particular – types of plastic commonly used in food packaging – will be developed.
Around 16 million tonnes of plastic packaging are generated in the EU each year, and a large proportion of this is used in the food and drink industry. Although PET plastic bottles can be recycled and converted into new bottles via the deposit-return system, it has not yet been possible to recycle plastic food packaging in a way that makes it suitable for reuse in food packaging. This is a major problem for both the industry and the environment. That is why the CRISP research project has been launched, to develop an integrated chain for recycling plastic into food packaging and thereby promote a circular economy.
– This project is incredibly important for several reasons. If we succeed – which we believe we will – we can reassure the entire food and packaging industry, which is currently concerned about how it will meet the requirements of the forthcoming EU PPWR legislation. From 2030, all food packaging must contain at least 10 per cent recycled material,” says Rickard Jansson, development engineer at Svensk Plaståtervinning.
From research to packaging: Key stages of the project
The project is a collaboration between several organisations in the fields of plastics recycling, packaging technology and food production, with the Danish Technological Institute leading the work. Some of the key technologies and innovations being developed as part of the project include:
- AI-driven sorting methods: At our Site Zero sorting facility in Motala, advanced AI technology is used to efficiently separate food packaging from other plastic packaging. This is a crucial step in enabling the recycling of food packaging.
- Effective cleaning solutions: Another major challenge in recycling is removing unwanted substances from the plastic so that it can be reused in food packaging. New and effective cleaning methods are being developed here.
- Design for recycling: New packaging solutions tailored for recycled plastic are also a key part of the project. Consideration is also being given to how consumers can be made more likely to accept recycled plastic in food packaging.
The aim is for the project, which runs until 2028, to lead to these technologies becoming commercially viable and to the establishment of a production-ready supply chain.
A sustainable solution for the food industry
For food producers such as Arla and Nestlé, CRISP offers a solution to one of the biggest challenges: gaining access to food-grade recycled plastic. There is a growing demand for this type of plastic, and through the project, producers can achieve both their sustainability targets and comply with future EU legislation (PPWR). Under new rules, all food packaging must contain at least 10 per cent recycled material from 2030.
Grane Maaløe, Head of Packaging Sustainability at Arla, explains:
– It is crucial to find packaging solutions that both protect our products and reduce our environmental impact. At present, we do not have access to food-grade recycled PE and PP, which limits our ability to increase the proportion of recycled material in our packaging. CRISP could be the key to ensuring this.
The CRISP project is supported by the Programme for the Development and Demonstration of Environmental Technology (MUDP) under the Danish Ministry of the Environment and Gender Equality.
Facts about CRISP:
- Project period: 2025–2028
- Objective: To further develop and demonstrate technology for recycling PE and PP packaging from household waste into new packaging approved for contact with food.
- Funding: Supported by the Programme for the Development and Demonstration of Environmental Technology (MUDP), the Ministry of the Environment and Gender Equality, Denmark
- Partners: Svensk Plaståtervinning, Aage Vestergaard Larsen, Amcor, Pharma-Tech A/S, Arla Foods, Nestlé Nordics, VANA and the Danish Technological Institute.
För mer information:
Rickard Jansson
Development Engineer, Svensk Plaståtervinning
Tel: 076-799 90 18
E-post: rickard.jansson@svenskplastatervinning.se
Line Rold Tousgaard
Project Manager, Teknologisk Institut
Tel: +45 72 20 23 89
E-post: lrto@teknologisk.dk
