Jokey and REMONDIS submit recycling process to the European Commission as a „Novel Technology“. The aim is to create a closed material cycle and produce food-grade recyclate.
Jokey Group and REMONDIS are launching a targeted collection of polypropylene (PP) food packaging as a pilot project in the Ruhr region. The aim is to recycle the collected plastic packaging from the commercial food sector to a high standard and to use the resulting recyclate again for food-contact packaging.
Targeted collection creates defined material streams
A key component of the project is the targeted collection of PP buckets used in large-scale kitchens and by food manufacturers. These plastic containers, often used for dairy products or sauces, offer ideal conditions for high-quality recycling due to their single-material structure made of polypropylene. The return of these packaging materials makes it possible to establish defined and controlled input streams, which are essential for food-contact-grade recycling.
Plastic packaging buckets are particularly well suited for this purpose: they are usually made from a single material – polypropylene –, are robust, easy to sort, can be completely emptied of any residue, and are used in homogeneous applications. These characteristics form the basis for a viable closed-loop system.
A clear division of roles along the value chain
REMONDIS Group contributes its expertise in the collection, sorting and processing of plastic waste, while the Jokey Group uses the recovered recyclate for new packaging. The entire process is supervised by an external scientific institution to ensure the safety and quality of the recycled raw materials. Independent laboratories comprehensively test the generated recycled raw material. The project partners maintain close communication to continuously develop the process steps and adapt them for industrial scale.
In addition to the technical aspects, Jokey and REMONDIS are also addressing the regulatory requirements. The recycling process has been submitted to the European Commission as a „Novel Technology“ to gain recognition for its use in food-contact materials. This regulatory approval is crucial for market ramp-up and the implementation of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates a minimum of ten percent recycled content in contact-sensitive plastic packaging from 2030 onwards.
Looking ahead, Jokey and REMONDIS plan to develop an industry-wide solution for the collection and high-quality recycling of PP food buckets. Other companies from the food, packaging and recycling sectors are invited to play an active role in shaping the further expansion of this circular economy initiative.
Regulatory approval as the basis for market ramp-up
In parallel with the technical work, the regulatory requirements were addressed. The recycling process used was submitted as a ‘novel technology’ to the European Commission and the relevant national authorities. The aim is to secure approval for the process for use in materials intended to come into contact with food within the EU. There are also plans to produce food-grade recycled material for markets outside the EU in the future.
Relevance in the context of the European Packaging Regulation (PPWR)
The project is also of particular significance in the context of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). For contact-sensitive plastic packaging, the PPWR stipulates a minimum recycled content of ten per cent from 2030, which is set to rise further in subsequent years. The project by Jokey and REMONDIS demonstrates that these requirements can be implemented in practice – provided that collection, recycling, quality assurance and regulation are considered together from the outset.
Voices from the project
Michael Schmitz, Sustainability Officer, Jokey Group:
“We are delighted to be working with REMONDIS to drive this project forward. For Jokey, the circular economy is not just a promise for the future, but a clear mandate to shape the way things are done. By establishing a robust closed-loop system for PP food packaging, we are taking responsibility for our products throughout their entire lifecycle. The launch of the targeted collection scheme is a key step towards bringing high-quality, safe and regulatory-compliant circular packaging solutions to market on a permanent basis.”
Dr. Jacob Wehrle, Project Manager, REMONDIS Group:
“The success of establishing closed-loop material cycles for food packaging depends entirely on the quality of the input streams. In this context, defined collection systems are not merely a supporting measure, but a prerequisite for recycling to food-contact standards. In our joint project with Jokey, we are demonstrating that high-quality PP recyclates for contact-sensitive applications are achievable if all stages of the value chain are considered as an integrated whole from the outset.”
