Packaging company Amcor and snack brand Mondelēz International have invested in the Australian advanced recycling technology business Licella.
The investments will support the construction of an advanced recycling facility in Victoria, Australia.
Named 'Advanced Recycling Victoria', the plant will leverage Licella’s Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor that utilises advanced hydrothermal liquefaction technology.
By using heated and pressurised water, the technology converts end-of-life plastic into a crude oil substitute.
Initially, the new facility will have a processing capacity of 20,000 tons (t) of end-of-life plastics per year. The company plans to increase this to 120,000t annually in the future.
The investment will enable Amcor to address the growing demand for recycled content in the region and expedite its target to achieve 30% recycled content across its portfolio by 2030.
Amcor's vice-president for Corporate Venturing and Open Innovation Frank Lehmann said: “Amcor is continually seeking opportunities to invest in new technologies that will bring long-term benefits to our customers, consumers and the planet.
“We recognise our products can play a vital role in the circular economy, and partnerships like this enhance our ability to deliver innovative solutions for our customers, like Mondelēz International.”
The investment will provide Mondelēz International with access to recycled content from the site to meet its soft plastic packaging needs in the country.
The food brand is aiming to remove unnecessary packaging and simplify packaging materials across its operations.
Mondelēz International's senior vice-president and chief global impact and sustainability officer Christine Montenegro McGrat said: “This investment brings together multiple stakeholders in the supply chain to scale the infrastructure and technology needed to help create a more sustainable future for plastics and is part of our longer-term focus on working toward our goal of net-zero packaging waste by supporting circular economies.”
