Accelerating progress for the entire value chain increasingly means acting nationally. At CEFLEX do this with a Europe-wide program of collaboration, instigation and catalyst projects.
Where there is opportunity, a desire for change and committed partners – we are delighted and driven to get involved.
‘FlexCircular’ in the UK ticks all of these boxes and has the potential to accompany a massive shift in how flexible packaging is sorted, recycled and returned to the economy to be used again.
Devised by the Flexible Plastic Fund (FPF), it builds on the momentum of the award-winning FlexCollect project, which successfully demonstrated that large-scale household collection of flexible plastic packaging in the UK is achievable.
FlexCircular represents the critical next step: moving from collection towards recycling and full-system circularity. It accompanies two major shifts to dynamics in the UK, ‘Simpler Recycling’ which introduces kerbside collection of flexibles from March 2027 and the recently launched Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme.
A collaborative effort with input from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), PackUK, the Welsh Government and Zero Waste Scotland, CEFLEX is part of a specially commissioned project team, alongside Suez, WRAP and RECOUP. It is also opportunity to work directly at national level with numerous CEFLEX stakeholders like Unilever, Pladis, PepsiCo, Mondelez, Mars, Nestlé and Lotus Bakeries
This initial project is undertaking comprehensive research to determine the scale of investment required in the UK to recycle up to 400,000 tonnes of post-consumer flexible plastic packaging by 2030. It will have a particular focus on achieving circularity for food-contact packaging.
The project seeks to answer key questions for industry and policymakers, including:
- How much recycled flexible plastic might be needed by industry from 2030 onwards, and will supply meet demand?
- What types of recycling facilities (mechanical, chemical, or future technologies) may be needed in the UK, and at what capacity?
- What level of investment might be required to build this infrastructure?
- What are the costs and risks of continuing with ‘business as usual’ (using virgin plastics) and what conditions (mix of policies and incentives) may help to align the value chain to support UK recycling infrastructure investment?
CEFLEX will be bringing its evidence and insights from systems change across Europe to help clarify the essential steps for the entire value chain and decision makers to define a new future for flexibles in this key market.
“The FlexCircular project represents a pivotal moment for flexible packaging in the UK. We’ve proven that collection at scale is possible – the next opportunity is to close the loop by investing in the recycling infrastructure to match. For the Flexible Plastic Fund, achieving circularity for food-contact flexible plastics isn’t just an ambition, it’s a necessity. This research aims to provide the roadmap the value chain needs to invest in the UK with confidence and deliver positive environmental outcomes for the future.”
– Richard Akkermans, R&D Packaging Sustainability Manager, Europe for Mondelez International