Continuum Recycling Wins Green Business Award

From left, Tom Whitehouse from Carbon International, host of the ceremony; Sam Richardson and Patrick McGuirk.

Continuum Recycling, ECO Plastics’ joint venture with Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), has been recognized at the Green Business Awards 2012. Sam Richardson, representing ECO Plastics , and CCE’s Patrick McGuirk accepted the Partnership Award at a ceremony at Lords Cricket Ground on Nov. 12.

The U.K.’s Green Business Awards recognize excellence in green practice, strategy and products. The organization says it is the U.K.’s most comprehensive awards on the subject.

The award was given in recognition of Continuum’s impact on the recycling sector in the United Kingdom, as well as for the partnership’s ongoing engagement with supply chains, customers and employees.

Continuum reprocesses used plastic bottles in its facility in Hemswell, U.K., which are then transformed into new Coca-Cola bottles. The joint venture has provided an economic boost and created skilled jobs in rural Lincolnshire.

Jonathan Short, managing director of ECO Plastics, says, “The Green Business Awards is one of the most prestigious awards in the environmental sector so ECO Plastics is honored to have been recognized. It’s fantastic to see the industry acknowledge the dedication and hard work put into this project. U.K. sustainable packaging has huge growth potential and we hope Continuum will provide a blueprint for similar projects in this sector.”

Patrick McGuirk, CCE’s recycling director, says, "We were absolutely delighted to accept this prestigious accolade alongside ECO Plastics. Continuum Recycling is a first for the industry and the award underlines the significant achievement in bringing this initiative together. At CCE we are serious about setting the industry standard for sustainable packaging, and Continuum represents a crucial part of our ongoing efforts to build a low-carbon, zero waste business here in Great Britain."

ECO Plastics began re-processing post consumer plastics in 2006. The company notes that over the past five years it has invested more than £17 million (US$27 million) to quadruple its processing capacity and triple the factory footprint. During early 2009 it became the first U.K. company to receive food grade accreditation for its recycled PET resin.

The completion of the business’ £15 million joint venture with Coca-Cola Enterprises has resulted in the Hemswell facility processing 150,000 metric tons of mixed plastics a year, including 40,000 metric tons of bottle-grade recycled PET pellet.

In February, 2012, ECO Plastics received a £1.15 million loan from WRAP’s Mixed Plastics Loan Fund. The funds have allowed ECO Plastics to increase the sorting facility at the plant, enabling it to more efficiently process rigid plastic packaging such as tubs, pots and trays.

For further information please visit www.ecoplasticsltd.com.