GCR Plastic Solutions and RIGK Advance Industrial Recycling for High-Quality Circular Packaging in Europe
GCR Plastic Solutions and RIGK GmbH have launched a strategic collaboration to conduct an advanced industrial recycling trial focused on post-consumer packaging collected through Germany’s PAMIRA system and the sector-specific GVÖ scheme. The initiative aims to ensure high standards of quality, traceability, and safety for recycled materials used in technical applications.
RIGK, one of Germany’s leading collective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system providers operating under the German Packaging Act, collaborates with major chemical industry groups such as BASF, Covestro, LANXESS, Evonik and Wacker Chemie. In partnership with these industry players, RIGK manages take-back and recycling systems for industrial, commercial, and agricultural packaging. Among these is the PAMIRA programme, which focuses on used plant protection product and liquid fertiliser packaging. The scheme is recognised for its high collection rates, pre-washing protocols, and strong traceability.
Similarly, GVÖ operates as an independent sector-specific system for lubricant packaging. For the recycling trials, RIGK (via PAMIRA) and GVÖ provided a controlled collection and pre-treatment framework, ensuring traceability at source and consistent input quality for the recycling process.
The trials were conducted at one of Europe’s most advanced mechanical recycling facilities operated by GCR Plastic Solutions. The facility forms part of the company’s €100 million strategic investment programme designed to prepare for the requirements of the forthcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and to strengthen GCR’s long-term commitment to high-quality circular solutions at an industrial scale.
The process incorporated cutting-edge technologies including hot-washing systems, advanced sorting solutions, and specialised extrusion lines equipped with reinforcement boosters and high-efficiency deodorisation units. These technologies were implemented to ensure that recycled materials could be safely reintroduced into the production cycle while preventing undesirable interactions with residual chemical substances that may remain in the original packaging streams.
In response to the stricter regulatory requirements expected under PPWR, highly sophisticated and cost-intensive processes were applied to guarantee optimal levels of quality, consistency, and safety. These advanced treatments were critical for enabling complex post-consumer industrial packaging streams to meet demanding technical and regulatory standards for new circular applications.
The project was also supported by GCR’s Innovation Division, a specialised technical unit consisting of 58 professionals and equipped with a comprehensive laboratory infrastructure dedicated to circular materials. Beyond advanced material characterisation—including mechanical testing, rheological studies, and contaminant analysis—the division can simulate customers’ production processes at pilot scale. This capability allows the validation of both material purity and real industrial performance under application-specific conditions.
GCR’s facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art gas and liquid phase chromatography systems, enabling precise analytical control of recycled pellets at levels rarely available in the market. This analytical capability enables detailed validation of material purity, volatile compounds, and potential contaminants, thereby reinforcing confidence among converters and brand owners seeking reliable circular raw materials.
Following successful validation of the recycling process and material quality, several leading European industrial packaging converters expressed interest in proactively preparing for PPWR requirements by gradually integrating these recycled materials into their production processes once full technical compliance and consistency are confirmed.
The initiative aims to provide security and reliability to the European industrial packaging sector by demonstrating that complex waste streams can be reintegrated into production cycles with robust technical validation, strict traceability, and advanced analytical verification, fully aligned with the objectives of the upcoming European packaging regulation.
The trials took place at GCR Plastic Solutions’ facilities at the end of February and included a visit from Markus Dambeck, Chairman of the Management Board at RIGK GmbH. Over two days, intensive washing, separation, and analytical testing were conducted to validate the quality of the recycled materials.
According to Santiago Sans, Industrial and Innovation Director at GCR, the project marks a significant milestone for the sector. “This initiative demonstrates that complex industrial packaging streams, when properly managed at source, can be transformed into high-value recycled raw materials with full analytical control and traceability. Our goal is to provide European converters with technically reliable and consistent materials.”
Markus Dambeck emphasised the importance of high standards in industrial recycling collaborations. “For RIGK, working with partners capable of meeting demanding quality and verification standards is essential. These trials represent an important step toward developing more robust and transparent recycling solutions for industry.”
Through this initiative, both organisations have strengthened their collaboration to raise the standards of industrial recycling in Europe. The project demonstrates that combining traceability at source, rigorous processing technologies, and strict analytical validation is essential for building credible and efficient circular value chains.
The primary objective of the project was to eliminate contamination and volatile compounds—an achievement that conventional recycling systems have struggled to accomplish. Initial test results indicate that volatile substances have been successfully removed, preventing cross-contamination and achieving purity levels previously considered difficult to attain. In the coming months, further trials will be conducted in collaboration with leading industry players to validate and expand upon these promising results.