101 - EU recycling and David Hasselhoff with Julian Thielen from Interseroh

People of Packaging · 26 Jan 2022 · 36m

What this episode covers

Julian Thielen, a packaging engineer at Interseroh, explains how Germany’s dual system for lightweight packaging collects flexible and rigid materials in yellow bags, contrasting this with the UK’s retailer-only LDPE collection. He details how retailers like Aldi and Lidl drive brand owners to design for recyclability by banning non-compliant materials, while new government fines penalize packaging with low recycled content. Thielen distinguishes between technical recyclability and useful recyclability, noting that while PET bottles have an end market, PET trays often do not, and highlights the emerging role of chemical recycling for complex waste streams.

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