SIG has announced a BRL 10 million (£1.5m) investment in recycling technology that will enable polymers and aluminium from used aseptic carton packs to be recovered and sold separately for the first time on an industrial scale in Brazil. - PackagingNews

By expanding the range of applications for recycled materials from used aseptic cartons, SIG expects to increase their value by more than 50%.

The renewable paper board that makes up around 75% of aseptic carton packs on average can be separated for recycling in paper mills through Brazil’s existing recycling infrastructure.

The polyethylene and aluminium mix (polyaluminium or PolyAl) left over from this process can be recycled into a robust material for purposes such as roofing, pallets and furniture.

SIG’s recycling plant should be able to separate the polyethylene from the aluminium in PolyAl to create a wider market and demand for these recycled materials.

Developed over five years with project partner ECS Consulting, the new technology has undergone a pilot project that proved the effectiveness of the chemical recycling process.

We are excited to bring to Brazil a new technology that will enable separation of aluminium and polyethylene layers from carton packs, thereby expanding the market for these materials and generating more value from the separated waste.

Ricardo Rodriguez, president and general manager for SIG Americas

The new recycling plant is currently in construction in the state of Paraná.

It is expected to begin operating in 2024 with an initial production capacity of 200 tonnes per month.

The new recycling plant in Paraná takes us a step further on this journey by maximising the retained economic and environmental value of the materials recovered from aseptic cartons.

Isabela De Marchi, sustainability manager for SIG South America