Packaging firm’s green plastics plan

A North East food packaging company has signed up to help deliver a world first – producing food-grade mechanically-recycled polypropylene.

Washington-based PFF has joined the NEXTLOOPP project – a global initiative launched by sustainability consultant Nextek.

The project aims to produce the first commercially available high quality food grade PP. which could be available in the UK by next year, boosting sustainability and environmental targets.

Primarily used in food packaging, non-food household and personal care products, PP accounts for around 20% of the world’s plastic and currently goes to wasteto-energy, landfill or is downcycled into low-performance applications – wasting precious resources.

Food packaging is currently made from virgin plastics.

PFF Group processes polypropylene at its Washington where it manufactures film for food packaging.

Lee Wilkinson, Group Supply Chain Manager at PFF Group, said the company’s participation in the project underlines its ongoing commitment to being at the forefront of developing a sustainable, circular plastics economy.

He said: “The NEXTLOOPP project has the potential to ensure post-consumer PP is appreciated as the valuable resource it should be, by being recycled into foodapproved packaging at scale.

“Reducing our reliance on virgin plastic and the continued use of recycled material offers greater circularity and significant energy savings, both of which will create environmental benefits.”