circularity success stories

SIG Terra alu-free full barrier

A paradigm shift in aseptic carton packaging: by eliminating the need for aluminum layers, SIG Terra alu-free full barrier maintains robust barrier properties comparable to traditional alternatives.

This innovative offering expands SIG’s commitment to sustainability, providing a greener solution for oxygen-sensitive beverages.

SIG Terra alu-free is fully recyclable within existing systems, ensuring the preservation of high-quality materials for continued use. This streamlined approach simplifies beverage carton recycling, reducing the separation process to just two materials (fibre and polymers) while enhancing the quality of recycled polymers.

The Cup Collective

The Cup Collective is a unique European partnership programme to recycle and regenerate paper cups on an industrial scale through the launch of initiatives such as those now operational in Brussels and Dublin and in partnership with initiatives like ‘McDonald’s in-house cup collection’ across multiple European markets, and ‘It’s Your Part’ in Germany.

In addition to activations the project acts as a communication hub, sharing system designs, expertise, and best practices. By making it easy for consumers to do the right thing, we will ensure that no cup is left behind.

The ultimate goal? Accelerate industrial scale solutions for paper cup recycling across Europe. Seeing half a billion cups recycled into new paper and board products over the next two years, while developing a commercially viable and transparent model to maximise the value of recycled cup materials.

Palurec PolyAl Recycling Plant

Palurec GmbH has been recognised for pioneering a certified advancement in recycling in Germany. While beverage cartons are primarily fibre-based, they also contain polymers and aluminium which are barriers for food protection. In the past, after extracting the fibres, the remaining mix of polymers and aluminum was commonly used as a low-emission fuel for cement factories. Palurec’s new process converts this mixture into high-quality recyclate suitable as an admixture for injection moulding applications such as castings, canisters, pipes or boxes. This directly reduces the use of virgin materials.

Palurec has been praised for its tangible impact on the circular economy, its alignment with 4evergreen’s primary targets, the use of 4evergreen tools, and the initiative’s uniqueness. The project’s collaborative approach and the ready availability of the solution have also drawn praise.

Fibre and Paper Development Laboratory (Fibre Lab)

The Fibre Lab at Kemsley pioneers research in technologies aimed at enhancing the performance and sustainability of fibre-based packaging. It is the first facility of its kind in the paper industry, focusing on critical aspects such as barrier technology, repulpability,
recyclability, and more.

Through the Fibre Lab, DS Smith is actively investigating advanced technologies that elevate the functional and eco-friendly attributes of fibre-based packaging. Even in its early stages, the facility has yielded promising results in various key areas, such as optimising process chemistry, analysing macro-stickiness, and enhancing paper strength through additives.