GCR and RIGK Launch Recycling Trial to Boost Circular Industrial Packaging in Europe

GCR Sustainable Plastic Solutions has partnered with RIGK GmbH to test an industrial recycling process for post-consumer packaging collected through Germany’s agricultural and industrial waste schemes, an effort aimed at improving traceability and material quality for technical applications. 

The initiative, reported by the companies, seeks to demonstrate how controlled collection systems and advanced processing can transform complex plastic waste streams into reliable recycled raw materials.

RIGK operates several collective Extended Producer Responsibility systems under the German Packaging Act and works closely with chemical manufacturers and packaging suppliers. Through the PAMIRA program, which collects used crop protection containers, and the GVÖ system for industrial packaging, the organization has established structured recovery networks designed to track materials from collection to treatment. Observers note that traceability is becoming a critical requirement as European regulators tighten oversight of recycled content in packaging.

According to reports, the recycling trials were conducted at GCR’s mechanical recycling facilities in Europe, part of a €100 million investment plan announced by the company to prepare for the European Union’s upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The process combines hot washing, advanced sorting and extrusion technologies with deodorization and reinforcement additives intended to stabilize recycled polymers for reuse in demanding industrial applications.

GCR’s innovation division supported the project with laboratory analysis and pilot-scale testing. The company said its team carried out material characterization including mechanical performance assessments, rheological testing and contaminant screening. Chromatography tools were also used to identify volatile compounds and verify purity levels, a step analysts say is increasingly important as brand owners demand greater transparency in recycled material supply chains.

Initial process validation has drawn interest from several European industrial packaging converters, which are exploring ways to integrate the recycled materials into future production lines ahead of the PPWR rules. Industry groups argue that such trials are essential to demonstrate that higher recycled content targets can be met without compromising performance or safety.

Santiago Sans, GCR’s industrial and innovation director, said the project shows that difficult industrial waste streams can be converted into higher-value resources when collection traceability and analytical controls are in place. Early tests indicated that volatile substances commonly associated with post-consumer plastics were effectively removed during processing.

Further validation work with industry partners is expected in the coming months as the companies assess the material’s suitability for broader commercial use. Analysts say initiatives like this could help European manufacturers prepare for stricter recycled-content requirements while reducing reliance on virgin plastics.

Source: GCR Sustainable Plastic Solutions

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Controlled collection systems combined with advanced recycling technology are emerging as key tools for turning complex industrial plastic waste into dependable circular materials.