After the conclusion of the joint research of Tetra Pak and Stora Enso, the proposed recycling line in Langerbrugge will have the capacity to process about 50,000 TPA of recycled cartons, which can be further extended.
July 26, 2022
Stora Enso and Tetra Pak have teamed up to assess and research a shared beverage carton recycling solution to meet the growing recycling need in Benelux. This is in response to the increasing demand for circular paper-based packaging solutions. The joint feasibility study will present a proposal for a comprehensive beverage carton recycling facility at Stora Enso’s Langerbrugge site, Belgium. The fibers will be processed at the Langerbrugge site, and the polymer and aluminum barrier materials would be recycled by a dedicated partner.
There are about 75,000 TPA of beverage cartons in the Benelux market, of which more than 70 percent are already collected for recycling. Presently, a beverage carton recycling infrastructure is not available in Benelux. The partnership between Stora Enso and Tetra Pak would enable in the creation of a complete recycling system for beverage cartons in Benelux and surrounding regions.
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The recycled fibers would serve as source material for producing recycled containerboard within the Langerbrugge site, delivering a fully circular solution. Within the partnership, Tetra Pak would ensure a recycling solution for polymer and aluminum materials to be processed by a dedicated partner.
The recycling project is also in relation to Stora Enso’s recently announced feasibility study to potentially convert one of the Langerbrugge site’s paper production lines into a high-volume recycled containerboard line. This feasibility study is slated to conclude in the first half of 2023, and the recycled containerboard line is expected to be in production in 2025.
Similarly, the joint study with Tetra Pak will also follow the same timeline. Initially, the proposed recycling line in Langerbrugge will have the capacity to process about 50,000 TPA of recycled cartons, which will have the potential to increase.
Mr. Chakib Kara, Managing Director France & Benelux, Tetra Pak, says, “With this joint initiative, we underline our commitment to local recycling progress and improving infrastructure in Benelux, a region with high volumes of collected beverage cartons. Stora Enso is a trusted and important partner which has the know-how and experience we need in fiber recycling. Together with them, we have the potential to put in place a circular solution that helps us secure a world where a growing number of carton packages are collected, recycled and we can minimise litter.”
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Mr. Markku Luoto, VP LPB Aseptic and CUK, Stora Enso, comments, “At Stora Enso, we constantly pursue opportunities to deepen our commitment to a circular packaging future. Circularity advancement requires smart investments and collaboration with the right partners. By working jointly with Tetra Pak, we can simultaneously create value, enhance circularity, and grow our competitiveness.”
