Increased use of recycled material only the beginning for Rani Plast

There are many reasons for manufacturers to introduce packaging that boosts recyclability and proportions of recycled content. They may have promises to keep about sustainable packaging, or want to address consumer concerns, or adapt to new regulations— or, most often, all of the above.

Rani Plast’s Eco facility in Bjölas, equipped with an Erema production line, has now been in operation for one year. This facility and its advanced machinery are fundamental to Rani Plast’s efforts to keep pace with the growing demand for sustainable packaging.

The new line’s internal recycling efforts resulted in an 11% increase of recycled raw materials content in production.

Last year’s numbers speak for themselves. The new line regranulated 6,100 tons of production spill — a doubling of the 3,000 tons produced on the old line, in 2022. But that’s not all. Its internal recycling efforts resulted in an 11% increase of recycled raw materials content in production.

Consumers are increasingly seeking brands that behave in an environmentally friendly manner. In response, Rani Plast offers its customers the option of having their films printed with a logo highlighting the recycled content. The end-consumers can then identify which films are made with recycled raw material — and make informed choices.

A 25% recycled raw material content by 2025

In 2024 the company aims to use the facility’s three regranulation lines at their full capacity; and, ideally, to increase its processing of external waste too.

– We accept our customers’ used film, and are always looking for noncontaminated plastic waste to turn into new regranulates,” said Mats Albäck, Sustainability & Development Director at Rani Plast.

– The difficulty lies in finding suitable material. The use of clean plastic material is crucial to the quality of Rani Plast’s high-performing packaging films, adds Mats.

Rani Plast’s timber wrapping films are already made using 100% recycled content.

Dennis Granqvist, Sales Director, mentions other challenges in increasing the use of recycled raw materials, such as maintaining the films’ required performance and coping with pricing pressures.

But the company remains fully committed to its goal of achieving 25% recycled raw material usage in its films by 2025. Its timber wrapping films are a case in point: they are already made using 100% recycled content.

Eco facility brings Rani Plast closer to carbon-neutral production

The new Eco facility has another important purpose: it brings the company closer to its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.

Rani Plast’s in-house regranulation has resulted in reduced transport emissions. Previously, the spill had to be transported to recycling and waste management facilities in southern Finland.

And then there’s the facility’s solar panels. In 2023 they generated over 200,000 kWh of energy and resulted in a CO2 saving of 87,000 kg. That’s equivalent to planting 2,600 trees — a small forest!