Vienna, Austria, Tuesday 18^th March 2025: Sustainability technology leader Nextek and flexible packaging expert Coveris today announce a partnership to transform the mechanical recycling of flexible films with a breakthrough innovation – the COtooCLEAN process. Together, they aim to convert post-consumer polyolefin (PE & PP) packaging waste into high-quality food-grade recycled resins and films.

This collaboration builds on Nextek’s success in winning the ‘Circular Solutions for Flexibles’ award from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW). The award was granted in recognition of Nextek’s innovative COtooCLEAN technology, which uses a unique waterless cleaning and decontamination process to produce food-grade recycled materials from post-consumer plastic film.

As part of the partnership between Nextek and Coveris, a demonstration plant is now being developed in the UK. The plant will implement the COtooCLEAN technology at industrial scale, with extensive trials planned to collect the data needed to meet regulatory requirements, along with the opportunity to demonstrate the technology to industry. The ultimate goal is to make this pioneering process available globally, helping tackle one of the toughest recycling challenges.

Professor Edward Kosior, CEO and founder of Nextek, highlights the importance of the partnership: “COtooCLEAN has the potential to transform plastic film recycling. Since winning the AEPW award, we’ve moved from prototype development to food-grade compliance trials. Partnering with Coveris is the next big step. Together, we’ll demonstrate this technology at scale and work toward a circular economy for plastic films.”

COtooCLEAN solves a critical problem in the recycling of PE and PP films, which are notoriously difficult to decontaminate. By enabling food-grade recycling, the technology represents a major leap forward in creating a sustainable future for flexible packaging.

Christian Kolarik, CEO of Coveris, shares his enthusiasm: “We’re really a frontrunner in this topic and we are thrilled to collaborate with Nextek on this project – a breakthrough in food-grade mechanical recycling. Sustainability is at the heart of Coveris’ ‘No Waste’ strategy, and this partnership is another milestone in ending plastic waste. Together with our ReCover recycling entity and our collaboration with Interzero, we are taking bold steps towards turning waste back into a valuable resource.”

By teaming up, Nextek and Coveris are demonstrating how innovation and collaboration can deliver impactful solutions. Their partnership is a key step toward achieving a circular economy for plastics and addressing one of the world’s most challenging recycling problems.

Join Coveris at Plastics Recycling Show Europe, the industry event for plastics recycling industry and supply chain in mainland Europe, from 1 – 2 April at RAI Amsterdam on stand G116.

About Nextek 

Nextek Ltd is a leading sustainability technology consultancy specializing in innovative recycling solutions. Their COtooCLEAN process transforms post-consumer polyolefin films into high-quality, food-grade recycled materials, addressing one of the toughest challenges in plastic recycling.

About Coveris

Coveris is a leading European packaging company specialising in high-performance flexible and paper packaging solutions. Serving some of the world’s most recognised brands, Coveris protects a diverse range of products, including food, pet food, medical supplies, industrial, and agricultural goods. Committed to innovation and sustainability, Coveris continuously develops attractive and environmentally responsible packaging in line with its No Waste vision. Strengthening this commitment, Coveris recently established ReCover, a dedicated business unit focused on waste procurement, processing, and plastics recycling, effectively closing the loop on plastic sustainability. Headquartered in Vienna, Coveris operates 28 sites across the EMEA region, employing 4,000 people.

www.coveris.com

About the Alliance to End Plastic Waste

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is an independent global non-profit organisation with the purpose to end plastic waste entering the environment and to create circular systems that keep materials and products in use for as long as possible. We go beyond connecting existing solutions to building unique and impactful circular solutions.

The Alliance convenes companies across the plastic value chain, governments, local communities, civil society groups, intergovernmental organisations, academia, and civil society. The expertise, knowledge, experience, and resources of this network enable our work to help end plastic waste and pollution.

Together, we work towards economically viable, environmentally beneficial, and socially responsible solutions. Find out more: endplasticwaste.org.

Press contact:

Barbara Sternig
Group Communication and Marketing Director
M: +43 676 8312 3310
E: Barbara.Sternig@coveris.com