The plant showcases a breakthrough purification technology designed to convert post-consumer polyolefin (PE and PP) film waste into high-quality recycled resin suitable for food-grade applications. This operational phase represents a critical preparation step in tackling one of the industry’s most complex challenges: enabling safe, compliant food-grade recycling from post-consumer flexible packaging.

Developed by Nextek and scaled in partnership with Coveris, COtooCLEAN addresses the persistent issue of embedded contaminants in plastic films. Using supercritical CO₂ extraction, the process penetrates deep into the polymer structure to remove oils, odours and legacy substances that conventional mechanical recycling cannot fully eliminate.

According to Edward Kosior, founder of Nextek and a recognised leader in polymer circularity, COtooCLEAN’s high purification performance provides a critical complementary step to unlock higher-quality recycled materials and enable true circularity for flexible films.

By enabling significantly higher decontamination performance, the technology promises to pave the way for increased availability of food-grade recycled content bysupporting regulatory compliance and reducing reliance on virgin materials.

This first-of-its-kind plant, built with the funding support from Alliance to End Plastic Waste, will allow the project to enter into its industrial phase, beginning in April 2026. This phase will enable the development of larger-scale operational experience and the generation of the data required for European regulatory approval, while demonstrating both scalability and commercial viability.

“This project marks the next step in advancing Coveris’ No Waste vision, with ReCover playing a central role in keeping plastics circular. With COtooCLEAN now fully operational, we are taking an important step in preparing to solve the food-grade recycling challenge for flexible films. Together with our advanced de-inking technologies, this innovation strengthens our mechanical recycling capabilities and opens the next phase of solutions for more demanding applications”, comments Bernhard Mumelter, Group Innovation Manager at Coveris Group.

“COtooCLEAN has the potential to improve both the rate and quality of flexible plastics recycling. This demonstration plant is an important step in validating the technology and supporting its path to wider deployment. It also reflects the Alliance’s commitment to advancing practical, scalable solutions. By accelerating innovation and working with partners across the value chain, we are working to turn progress into real systems change,” said Jacob Duer, President and CEO, Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

Industrial-scale trials will begin in April 2026 to generate the two years of data required by European regulators, while also showcasing the technology to industry.

 

About Nextek

Nextek Ltd is a leading sustainability technology consultancy specialising in innovative recycling solutions. Their COtooCLEAN process transforms post-consumer polyolefin films into high-quality, food-grade recycled materials, addressing one of the toughest challenges in plastic recycling.

About the Alliance to End Plastic Waste

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is an independent global non-profit organisation, with the purpose to end plastic waste entering the environment and to create circular systems that keep materials and products in use for as long as possible. The organisation goes beyond connecting existing solutions, to building unique and impactful circular solutions.