Berry Global's recently opened recycling facility in Leamington Spa, UK, has been recognised for its innovative technology and contribution to a circular economy.
The Berry Circular Polymers plant was named 'Plastics Recycling Business of the Year' at the 2024 Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management by letsrecycle.com.
This award highlights Berry's commitment to sustainability in the packaging industry.
“As one of the global sustainable packaging leaders, we’re invested in lowering our carbon footprint and increasing the use of recycled content to give plastic multiple lives,” said Rosie Barber, commercial director - Rigid Plastics for Berry Circular Polymers.
“This prestigious award underscores the significance of our revolutionary CleanStream technology and its ability to deliver high-quality, recycled plastic that advances the circular economy by keeping used plastics out of the waste stream.”
The company's proprietary CleanStream technology is a closed-loop system designed to mechanically recycle domestically collected polypropylene (PP) waste into food-grade plastic.
CleanStream represents a leap forward in domestic PP recycling within the UK.
With the reported capacity to process nearly 40% of the country's household PP waste, the technology offers a large-scale solution for keeping plastic out of landfills.
Independent life-cycle analysis by Quantis revealed that packaging made with CleanStream recycled material boasts a 35% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions compared to virgin plastic.
This translates to an estimated annual reduction of 36,000 tonnes of CO₂.
CleanStream has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it meets strict food-grade contact safety standards.
The company said the technology eliminates odour, taint, and minimises migration, making it suitable for a wide range of food packaging applications.
Notably, the Leamington Spa facility has received a Letter of No Objection from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allowing for the use of 100% CleanStream recycled PP in food-contact products.
Berry Global's commitment to innovation with its CleanStream technology paves the way for a more circular economy within the plastics industry.
