Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS) has entered into a reciprocal membership agreement with Belgian non-profit organisation Plarebel for extending circular polystyrene cooperation.
The collaboration aims to strengthen efforts in achieving a circular economy for plastics by focusing on the design, collection, sorting, and recycling of packaging materials, including food trays and yoghurt pots.
Since its inception in 1999, Plarebel has been offering information and expertise on plastics recycling in Belgium.
The organisation has partnership in place with Fost Plus, the Belgian household packaging producer responsibility organisation.
It also has tie-ups with other European EPR systems and the Belgian plastic packaging industry.
SCS secretary general Jens Kathmann said: “We are pleased to become a member of Plarebel and also to welcome them as members of SCS. This reflects our shared ambition, as well as the progress of circular polystyrene.
“It offers an opportunity to benefit from one another’s expertise and capabilities to further advance the collection, sorting and recycling of polystyrene packaging in Belgium and beyond.”
Additionally, Plarebel co-chairs the European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations’ Technical Working Group.
The partnership with SCS is set to leverage this expertise along with its experience in developing recycling solutions for styrenic polymers to upscale the solutions across the value chain.
It is expected to enhance plastic recycling by improving packaging design, fostering a better understanding of consumer behaviour in separate collection, and increasing sorting yields.
Plarebel president Saskia Walraedt said: “We are delighted to welcome SCS, as well as to join them. Our reciprocal membership will deliver even deeper expertise regarding the circular dynamic of the different types of polystyrene packaging on the European market.
“We see the potential for powerful synergy, especially around the circular design of all types of plastic packaging, an area of great interest for European brand owners and retailers.”
