August 5, 2025 14:18
With the aim of establishing a closed-loop recycling model for expanded polypropylene (EPP) scraps, the German company General Industries Deutschland (GID) has rolled out the EPP LOOP initiative across Europe.
This voluntary program opens its platform to manufacturers, distributors, machine makers, recyclers and logistics operators, promoting the recovery and reprocessing of industrial EPP waste.
Participants are encouraged to commit to tangible sustainability actions, including the full recycling of their EPP production scraps and internal awareness-raising on circular economy practices.
According to GID, more than 7,400 tonnes of EPP-based waste were collected and recycled in the past year through a network of 15 collection hubs spanning around 10 European countries. Notably, 1,500 tonnes were processed in a closed-loop system, reintroduced directly into manufacturing cycles without downcycling.
The company now sets its sights higher: By 2030, it aims to collect and recycle 75% of all EPP waste generated in Germany, with at least 15,000 tonnes per year reintegrated into productive use. This would represent a tenfold increase over the volumes currently reintroduced into EPP applications, which this year reached 1,500 tonnes, with an additional 5,900 tonnes destined for alternative uses such as injection molding.
As the program’s central coordinator, GID is responsible for expanding and managing the collection infrastructure, providing technical documentation support, fostering the exchange of best practices, and offering communication tools for partner companies.
“With EPP LOOP, we are creating an efficient network that is already demonstrating how the circular economy for technical plastics such as EPP can be successful,” says Matthias Henning, CEO of GID. “We cordially invite all players in the EPP industry to become part of this sustainable network. Only together can we shape the future of plastics recycling in a climate-friendly way.”
© Polimerica - Reproduction prohibited, all rights reserved
