News

Plastic waste turn into plant film
Albert Heijn is participating in a pilot project in which its own plastic waste is recycled into film used for packaging plants that are subsequently sold in AH stores. This recycling initiative was made possible through a collaboration between Verpact, Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) and the Horti Sustainable Packaging Initiative (HSPI). Together, they are launching a two year pilot aimed at increasing the use of so called post consumer recycled plastic (PCR) in flower and plant sleeves.

The collaboration aims to create a structural application of circular plastics within the Dutch floriculture sector and was officially announced during the international trade fair Plastic Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam. Albert Heijn is the first major retailer participating in the pilot project.

The benefits of PCR within the floriculture sector
Within the floriculture sector, the use of post consumer recycled material offers significant advantages. Flower sleeves are produced in very large volumes, meaning that replacing virgin plastic with PCR directly results in lower CO₂ emissions and a substantial reduction in the use of fossil based raw materials. In addition, it stimulates plastic reuse within the Dutch value chain and contributes to a more sustainable and circular floriculture sector.

A collaboration across the value chain
This pilot connects recyclers, producers and buyers across the value chain, including partners such as KIVO Flexible Plastics, SCGC SCG Chemicals, SIRPLASTE, Kras Recycling B.V., Duma Recycling and the Horti Sustainable Packaging Initiative (HSPI), including participating companies such as KoenPack B.V., JBB Packaging and Decowraps.

In addition, chain of custody certification ensures transparency and full traceability throughout the chain. This collaboration demonstrates what becomes possible when companies across the value chain work together. A scalable approach that can be applied to other product categories and across multiple sectors.