AEPW: Blueprint for advanced PCR film recycling

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) has published its latest report, ‘The Quest for Quality’.


According to the Alliance, the report, published in June 2026, is intended to serve as a strategic guide to help companies meet the strict requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). At the same time, it is said to provide a global blueprint for the recycling of flexible packaging. From 2030, the PPWR will require a mandatory post-consumer recycling content of 35 per cent in non-food packaging. To ensure these legal requirements are met in good time, the alliance aims to set out a concrete technical pathway for the packaging industry. To this end, it has investigated how advanced mechanical recycling can help process flexible plastic waste into high-quality recycled materials for demanding packaging applications. According to the AEWP, the study shows that it is possible to produce high-quality films with a recycled content of over 30 per cent. According to the information provided, the results are largely based on findings from the “ValueFlex” project, which was under development since 2022 in collaboration with the industry association CEFLEX, the management consultancy Roland Berger and HTP Engineering. According to those involved in the project, costly new developments are not strictly necessary for this. Existing sensor-based sorting systems, hot-wash systems and double-melt filtration were already capable of delivering the required quality. According to the report, it outlines the technical, economic and market conditions required to scale up these solutions. The report also emphasises the complementary roles of advanced mechanical and chemical recycling, with each approach tailored to different waste streams and end-market applications.
 
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