Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams Invest €3 Million in New Recycling Plant to Boost Beverage Carton Recycling Capacity

Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams Invest €3 Million in New Recycling Plant to Boost Beverage Carton Recycling Capacity

(IN BRIEF) Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams have invested €3 million to establish a new recycling plant in Ittervoort, Netherlands, set to begin operations in the second half of 2025. The plant will process the polyAl component from used beverage cartons, significantly boosting recycling capacity in the EU. Located near the Belgian and German borders, it will handle polyAl from Belgium, the Netherlands, and part of Germany, with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes annually. This expansion complements existing facilities and supports Tetra Pak’s commitment to sustainability, transforming recycled materials into new products like pallets and outdoor furniture.

(PRESS RELEASE) LAUSANNE, 10-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams have announced a joint investment of approximately €3 million to launch a new recycling plant in Ittervoort, Netherlands, set to begin operations in the second half of 2025. The facility will process the non-fibre component (polyAl) from used beverage cartons, significantly increasing recycling capacity within the European Union (EU).

Located strategically near the Belgian and German borders, the plant is designed to handle the entire polyAl volume from beverage cartons recycled in Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as a portion of the volume from Germany. With an annual processing capacity of 20,000 tonnes, this new plant will complement the existing 8,000-tonne facility in Roosendaal, Netherlands, operated by Recon Polymers. Together, these plants will substantially enhance the region’s recycling capacity and strengthen the EU’s established recycling infrastructure, which currently includes 20 specialized paper mills and 10 facilities processing polyAl.

Kinga Sieradzon, Vice President of Collection & Recycling at Tetra Pak, stated: “This new plant marks a significant step forward in boosting the recycling capacity for used beverage cartons in the region. Our collaboration with Yellow Dreams will not only help meet the Netherlands’ official recycling targets but also support our global commitment to sustainability. Our ongoing investments, up to €40 million annually, reflect our dedication to advancing beverage carton recycling.”

Bas Gehlen, Managing Director of Yellow Dreams, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, saying: “Our partnership with Tetra Pak showcases the tremendous potential of polyAl recycling and underscores the value of collective action in building a circular economy. This initiative is a key part of our ongoing efforts to transform carton recycling and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

The expanded recycling infrastructure is crucial for turning used beverage cartons into valuable materials for new products. Recycled paper fibers enhance the quality of products like e-commerce boxes and shopping bags, while the polymer and aluminium layers, once processed, can replace virgin plastics in applications like injection moulding, extrusion, and thermo-forming. These recycled materials can be used to produce a variety of items, such as pallets, crates, outdoor furniture, and tiles.

Tetra Pak has been collaborating with Recon Polymers since 2019 to advance polyAl recycling technology, culminating in the Roosendaal plant, which began operations in 2021. With a €1 million investment in 2023, the facility’s capacity was increased to 8,000 tonnes per year, supporting material circularity across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The new co-investment with Yellow Dreams, which uses the same technology to transform polyAl into everyday items such as reusable pallets and 3D-printed objects, represents the latest milestone in this ongoing journey. Once operational, the Ittervoort plant will provide significant recycling benefits to multiple countries.

Media Contact:

Lucia Freschi
Tetra Pak
Tel: +39 347 263 2237
Lucia.freschi@tetrapak.com

SOURCE:  Tetra Pak