UK sustainable waste management company Biffa has announced the acquisition of North Yorkshire-based polyethene terephthalate (PET) plastic recycler Esterpet Ltd.
Esterpet converts 25,000 tonnes of plastic flakes each year, generated from recycled bottles, into high-purity plastic pellets at its recycling facility near Leeds, Biffa says. The pellets produced by Esterpet are made into new plastic bottles for beverages, cosmetics and household goods.
The latest acquisition builds on Biffa’s existing closed-loop food-grade plastic recycling plants in Seaham, Redcar and Washington where the firm says it converts over 165,000 tonnes of plastic each year into high-quality recycled polymers.
Alongside the acquisition of Esterpet Ltd, Biffa has made a minority investment in its sister company Esterform, a manufacturer of PET preforms. Biffa says it looks forward to working with Esterform and its other partners to deliver a UK circular economy for plastic packaging.
Biffa Polymers provides solutions for the majority of post-consumer rigid plastic packaging.
Commenting on the acquisition, Phil Goodier, Biffa Polymers Managing Director, said: “Biffa Polymers provides solutions for the majority of post-consumer rigid plastic packaging, using the best available recycling technology to produce raw materials that are a substitute for virgin plastic packaging.
“The acquisition of Esterpet is another step forward for the business, further enhancing our capability in recycled PET at a time when demand for our solutions is growing significantly, as consumers and regulators demand more sustainable alternatives.”
