GCR Plastic Solutions and RIGK Conduct Recycling Trials for Industrial Packaging in Europe
GCR Plastic Solutions and RIGK GmbH have initiated a collaboration to conduct an industrial recycling trial focused on post-consumer packaging collected through the German PAMIRA system and the GVÖ scheme. The initiative aims to assess quality, traceability, and safety standards for recycled materials used in technical applications within the industrial packaging sector.
GCR Plastic Solutions and RIGK GmbH announced a strategic collaboration to carry out an industrial recycling trial involving post-consumer packaging streams collected through the PAMIRA system and the sector-specific GVÖ scheme in Germany. The project focuses on evaluating recycled material quality, traceability, and safety for technical applications.
RIGK GmbH operates as a collective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system provider under the German Packaging Act. The company works with chemical industry groups including BASF, Covestro, LANXESS, Evonik and Wacker Chemie. Together with industry partners, the organisation manages take-back and recycling systems for industrial, commercial and agricultural packaging. These include PAMIRA, a sector-specific system for packaging used for plant protection products and liquid fertilisers. GVÖ functions as an independent system operator focusing on lubricant packaging.
Pictured during the testing at GCR’s facilities are Mr. Markus Dambeck, Chairman of the Management Board at RIGK GmbH, and Mr. Santiago Sans, Industrial and Innovation Director at GCR.
For the recycling trial, packaging materials were supplied through the PAMIRA and GVÖ frameworks, which provide controlled collection and pre-treatment processes. These systems include pre-washing procedures and traceability measures designed to maintain consistent input material quality.
The recycling trials were conducted at a mechanical recycling facility operated by GCR Plastic Solutions. The plant forms part of a €100 million investment programme intended to address requirements linked to the upcoming European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
The trials involved several processing technologies including hot washing systems, advanced sorting equipment, extrusion technologies, reinforcement boosters and deodorisation units. These processes were used to assess whether recycled materials from post-consumer industrial packaging could be reintroduced into manufacturing cycles while avoiding interactions with residual chemical substances previously contained in the packaging.
To meet technical and regulatory requirements related to the upcoming PPWR framework, additional treatment and verification procedures were applied to ensure material consistency and safety. These steps were implemented to evaluate the potential use of recycled materials in new circular applications.
The project also involved support from the Innovation Division of GCR Plastic Solutions. The division includes 58 professionals and laboratory facilities designed for the evaluation of circular materials. The unit conducts material characterisation processes including mechanical testing, rheology studies and contaminant analysis, and can simulate industrial production processes at pilot scale to assess performance in specific applications.
The facility is equipped with gas and liquid phase chromatography systems, which allow detailed analytical evaluation of recycled pellets. These systems enable analysis of volatile compounds, contaminants and material purity to support validation for potential industrial applications.
Following the validation process, several European industrial packaging converters indicated plans to evaluate the integration of these recycled materials into their production systems after confirming technical compliance and material consistency.
The initiative aims to provide verification that complex post-consumer industrial packaging streams can be reintroduced into production cycles with traceability and analytical control in line with objectives of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
The recycling trials were conducted at the facilities of GCR Plastic Solutions at the end of February. The programme included a visit from Markus Dambeck of RIGK GmbH. Over two days, washing, separation and analytical procedures were carried out to evaluate the quality of the recycled materials.
“This project represents a decisive step in demonstrating that complex industrial streams, when properly managed at source, can be transformed into high-value recycled raw material with full analytical control and traceability,” says Santiago Sans. “Our objective is to offer major European converters technically reliable and consistent material.”
Markus Dambeck adds: “For RIGK, it is essential to work with partners capable of meeting demanding quality and verification standards. These trials enable us to move towards increasingly robust and transparent recycling solutions for industry.”
Initial results from the project indicate that volatile substances were removed during the recycling process, preventing cross-contamination and improving purity levels. Additional trials are planned in the coming months with industry partners to further validate these outcomes.