Close the Loop

Closing the loop requires us to design for recyclability, maximise post-consumer recycled content (PCR) quality and availability, and to work with industry stakeholders on policy, consumer education and planning to ensure suitable infrastructure is available. We must also consistently upgrade and re-engineer our production processes to maximise the amount of PCR we’re able to use.

Highlights in 2023

25%

25% of the plastic packaging we produced last year comprised postconsumer recycled (PCR) material.

11.4%

11.4% of our recycled material was from kp Tray2Tray^®.

321,000 tonnes

Using recycled rather than virgin material in our operations equates to more than 321,000 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions.

31%

31% of our products by volume are designed for recyclability, a 9% improvement since 2019.

Target I: Use more recycled material

By the end of 2025, we will use at least 30% post-consumer recycled material in our packaging.

Highlights in 2023

We maintained a strong level of PCR usage through a focus on optimising process efficiencies. A combination of our own ability to innovate and external market forces continues to shape progress.

Future outlook

We will continue to devote significant R&D resources to developing new films for novel packaging applications, which will include a greater proportion of PCR material.

Target II: Close the packaging loop

By 2025, at least 30% of the post-consumer recycled material in our packaging will be from the kp Tray2Tray^® (T2T) initiative.

Highlights in 2023

We increased our share of kp Tray2Tray^® in a challenging market thanks to strong supplier partnerships.

Future outlook

Despite the progress made towards achieving our ambition to originate 30% of our PCR consumption from pots, tubs and trays by 2025, the slower pace on growing the current collection and sorting scenario is limiting our ability to progress at expected pace. Strong partnerships are key to stable supply across the value chain and we are committed to expanding this programme as quickly as possible.

Target III: Recyclability

By 2025, 100% of our packaging will be recyclable.

Highlights in 2023

Our products designed for recyclability have now increased 9% by volume to 31% since 2019. We now have recyclable alternatives for 68% of our overall product portfolio.

Future outlook

Our immediate focus is to have as many recyclable alternatives as possible for our product portfolio, but we may need to go beyond 2025 to achieve our target to make all our packaging recyclable. We are fully committed to working with the whole value chain to ensure recyclable packaging is recycled at scale.

Close the Loop in action

kp Infinity^® helps our customers adapt to changing UK regulation

Many types of single-use plastic, banned in Scotland since 2022, are now also prohibited in England and Wales. For many of our UK customers, the solution is kp Infinity^®, an Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) fully recyclable mono-material pack.

kp Infinity^® is light, relatively little energy and water is used during its manufacture, and it is fully compatible with existing UK recycling infrastructure. Under testing, kp Infinity^® showed the lowest overall carbon footprint (kg CO2e) when recycling is factored in, outperforming both bagasse and board-based packaging.

kp Infinity^® helps our customers adapt to changing UK regulation

kp Infinity<sup>®</sup> helps our customers adapt to changing UK regulation

Market-leading kp Tray2Tray^® programme goes from strength to strength

Market-leading kp Tray2Tray<sup>®</sup> programme goes from strength to strength

Market-leading kp Tray2Tray^® programme goes from strength to strength

Our kp Tray2Tray^® initiative enables us to use material recovered from PET food trays to manufacture new trays – a great example of ‘closed-loop’ thinking. Our widely offered trays and rigid films incorporate up to 35% kp Tray2Tray^® flake, which is suitable for food contact. Customers can claim an eco-tax discount in certain countries, where Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes incentivise the use of PCR PET from food trays. This year, our R&D team collaborated across all FP Division departments to launch a flagship product incorporating 35% of kp Tray2Tray^® material into our SmartCycle^® PET range without impacting performance.

Launching innovative products

kp SecondLife^® Card Core Films are 100% post-industrial recycled films, launched in 2023 as a response to clear demand from credit, debit and loyalty card manufacturers.

Within the SecondLife^® family, we recently expanded our available colours and launched SecondLife^® overlay films, making kp a one-stop-shop for card film applications. Our SecondLife® films can also be used in conjunction with our line of laminated kpFoil^® card films.