A New Era in Packaging: 16 Partners Unite Under the InFACT Project to Recycle Flexible Plastics

Recycling modern food packaging is a global challenge. A consortium of 16 international partners has launched the InFACT project, aiming to transform household soft plastic waste—including food-grade materials—into new packaging. Supported by Innovation Fund Denmark, the initiative seeks to improve the recycling rate of under 15% in the wake of stricter European Union regulations.

The Current Crisis of Flexible Plastic Recycling

While flexible plastics account for nearly half of all plastic packaging placed on the market, their recycling rate is at a critical level, hovering below 15%. The primary reason for this is the highly complex structure of modern food packaging. These soft wrappers (such as coffee bags, meat films, chip bags, and candy wrappers) consist of multiple plastic layers, barrier films, inks, adhesives, and in some cases, metallized surfaces. This technological advancement, while beneficial for product protection, makes traditional mechanical recycling “almost impossible.”

The InFACT Project and the Consortium’s Structure

To solve this problem, 16 international organizations and companies established the InFACT project. The initiative is led by the Danish Technological Institute. The consortium covers the entire value chain, from waste collection and sorting to advanced recycling, packaging manufacturing, and food companies.

The partners include key players such as Nestlé, Interzero, TotalEnergies, Hilton Foods, Cloetta, BKI Foods, the City of Copenhagen, Fraunhofer IVV, Topsoe, Coveris, Dapofa, the University of Southern Denmark, and VANA.

Objectives and Technological Approach (2026–2028)

The project runs from 2026 to 2028 and is funded by Innovation Fund Denmark through the TRACE program. The consortium’s primary goal is to demonstrate a commercially viable, circular infrastructure capable of transforming soft plastics collected from households back into new packaging materials suitable for the retail and food sectors.

The strength of the project lies in its integrated model, connecting every stage of the packaging’s lifecycle: from waste bins to supermarket shelves. InFACT combines complementary recycling technologies to overcome technical barriers while addressing the fragmentation of the value chain and the historical lack of viable business models.

A Timely Response to Stricter European Union Regulations

The launch of the project comes at a critical time. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which came into force in February 2025, mandates that all packaging must be recyclable by 2030, while also making the use of documented recycled content mandatory. InFACT aims to help the industry translate these requirements into practical and scalable solutions.

According to Per Sigaard Christensen from the Danish Technological Institute, the project can strengthen Europe’s industrial resilience: “If we succeed in establishing a commercially viable infrastructure for flexible plastic packaging, we can both support the implementation of EU requirements and strengthen the resilience of European industry.”

Industry Benefits and Future Outlook

For packaging manufacturers, food companies, and retailers, InFACT offers several concrete benefits:

• Access to new, high-quality recycled materials, including food-grade options.

• A more stable supply chain, less dependent on virgin, fossil-based plastics.

• Compliance with stricter EU regulations on recyclability and recycled content.

• A unified model that reduces fragmentation and accelerates the transition to a circular economy.

If successful, the initiative could mark a turning point in the history of flexible plastics: transforming one of Europe’s most problematic waste streams into a highly valuable, circular resource.

References and Sources:

• Primary Source: Food and Drink Technology – Partners unite to build circular system for packaging

• Official State / Project Page of the TRACE Program: TRACE – InFACT Project