November 19, 2025 09:18

The first plastic waste sorting plant in Europe to be certified under RecyClass’s new Sorting Process scheme has officially opened in Motala, Sweden. Named Site Zero, the facility was inaugurated in recent days by Svensk Plaståtervinning (Swedish Plastic Recycling) and is currently the largest of its kind in operation, with a processing capacity of about 200,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste per year.

The certification audit, conducted by Ecogrant, a RecyClass-recognized body, confirmed that the plant’s traceability system meets the mandatory requirements for mechanical recycling of plastics into food-contact materials, in line with EU Regulation 2022/1616.

“Being the first in Europe to receive this certification shows that we already have the order and traceability required under the PPWR,” said Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Swedish Plastic Recycling. “This is crucial, especially for materials that come into contact with food.”

At the new facility, Swedish Plastic Recycling sorts PET bottles, PET trays and polystyrene packaging — all recyclable into food-grade materials. As part of the CRISP research project, the company is also evaluating other polymers, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, for similar use in food-contact applications.

“We believe that recycling should be carried out under full control,” Philipsson added. “Otherwise, there is a risk that the plastic will be handled incorrectly or end up in the wrong hands. The fact that there is now a European certification for sorting facilities creates credibility, transparency and industrialization of plastic recycling throughout the EU.”

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