In late December last year, Amcor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australian-based technology pioneer Licella Holdings, which sees the packaging solutions giant invest in one of Australia’s first plastic advanced recycling facilities.
The agreement supports Amcor and Licella’s commitment to creating a local circular economy for soft plastics in Australia, and helps advance Amcor’s target to achieve 30 per cent recycled content across its portfolio by 2030.
“Amcor is proud to be part of the solution, supporting the development of new technologies and creating a local circular economy for soft plastics in Australia,” said Mike Cash, president of Amcor Flexibles Asia-Pacific.
“We are proud to be able to help deliver a local supply of food-grade recycled content that can enable more customers to participate in a circular economy.”
Located in Melbourne, stage one of the proposed facility is expected to process 20,000 tonnes per annum of waste plastic utilising Licella’s pioneering Cat-HTR technology, and will rely on collections activities to divert soft plastic waste from landfill or incineration.
Stage one of the project has already received approval from the Victorian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“Licella and Amcor share a vision for a more sustainable future for plastic,” said Dr Len Humphreys, CEO of Licella Holdings.
“We are delighted to partner with Amcor as we develop our first Australian advanced recycling facility, with our Cat-HTR technology that enables soft plastic to be repeatedly recycled into food-grade post-consumer recycled content, which is rapidly increasing in demand both locally and globally.”
Amcor ANZ and Licella previously collaborated on Licella’s feasibility study, which validated a local supply chain for food-grade recycled soft plastic, and demonstrated the critical economic and environmental benefits of the proposed facility.
Both parties will be undertaking further discussions on final terms and arrangements, which will be subject to respective internal approvals.
