The circularity of industrial and commercial plastic packaging was the focus of a recent session within the Rethinking Plastic initiative, where industry experts explored the integration of sustainability, reuse, recycling and food safety in packaging systems.
During the event, Teresa Martínez, Director of Circular Economy Projects at SINTAC Recycling, presented the LIFE CLOOVER² project (2023–2027), an innovative initiative dedicated to extending the service life of polyolefin plastic packaging used in the agri-food sector through closed-loop circular systems.
The project investigates how industrial drums, jerrycans and horticultural crates can be reused across multiple cycles and subsequently recycled, allowing the recovered raw material to be incorporated into the manufacture of new packaging. The main objective is to demonstrate that plastic packaging loops can be effectively closed while maintaining the functionality, traceability and food safety standards required by the agri-food industry.
Coordinated by SINTAC Recycling and involving Reyde, part of the Armando Alvarez Group, LIFE CLOOVER² highlights the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders, associations and the entire value chain to develop and implement circular solutions at an industrial scale.
The presentation also addressed the challenges and opportunities associated with combining sustainability objectives with stringent food safety requirements, reinforcing the need for innovative approaches that support both environmental performance and regulatory compliance.
As Teresa Martínez explained during the session, the project seeks to demonstrate that sustainability and food safety can progress together. Achieving this goal requires the active involvement of the entire value chain, ensuring traceability, functionality, regulatory compliance and the replicability of the proposed circular model.
Through initiatives such as LIFE CLOOVER², SINTAC Recycling continues to promote practical and scalable solutions that contribute to the transition towards a more circular, sustainable and resource-efficient agri-food sector.
