Consortium Breaks Ground on U.K. Laminate Recycling Plant

Enval, a provider of recycling and environmental technology solutions based in Cambridge, U.K., has announced the establishment of a partnership with several consumer goods brand owners to support the construction of a commercial scale facility for Enval’s new material recovery technology.

Enval claims that its technology offers a recycling opportunity for flexible laminate packaging that has, to date, been unrecyclable. The technology separates the material into its constituent components, producing clean aluminum that can be recycled, while the hydrocarbons can be used as fuel or chemical feedstock.

"Enval is delighted to announce the formation of the Enval Consortium," says David Boorman, Enval’s business development director. "By participating in this consortium, our partners are clearly demonstrating their commitment to tackling the environmental consequences arising from their own products’ end-of-life.”

A news release from Enval notes that the process can expand the recycling opportunities for packaging such as pouches for drinks and pet food, aseptic drink cartons and laminate tubes.

Enval, originally formed as a spin-out from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Chemical Engineering, is a privately funded company.

The company has not yet released the names of its consortium partners.