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To advance circular paper-based packaging solutions with a new recycling facility
To meet growing recycling needs in Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), Stora Enso and Tetra Pak have combined forces on a shared recycling solution for beverage cartons. The joint feasibility study includes a plan for a recycling facility at Stora Enso’s Langerbrugge site in Belgium.
Each year, approximately 75,000 tonnes of beverage cartons enter the Benelux market. Of these more than 70% are already collected for recycling. However, there is no existing beverage carton recycling infrastructure in Benelux.
In collaboration with Tetra Pak, Stora Enso is launching a new recycling process to recover the fibres of collected beverage cartons in the region. The recycled fibers are then used as source material for producing recycled containerboard at the Langerbrugge site, resulting in a fully circular solution. The remaining polymer and aluminium materials will be processed and recycled by another dedicated partner.
The proposed recycling line in Langerbrugge will initially process an estimated 50,000 tonnes of recycled cartons per year – with the potential to increase capacity even further.
The recycling project is linked to Stora Enso’s recently announced feasibility study to potentially convert one of the Langerbrugge site’s paper lines into a high-volume recycled containerboard line. This study is expected to conclude in the first half of 2023 and depending on a decision to invest, the recycled containerboard line is expected to be in production until 2025. The joint study with Tetra Pak will follow the same timeline.
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