Borealis is spearheading an innovative new pilot to test the advantages of a double-closed loop reuse and recycling system in line with its EverMinds ambition.
Borealis
Borealis eliminates single-use plastic cups at Belgium sites
‘Borealis Closes The Loop’ sees Borealis and its value-chain partners replace the 1.5 million single-use cups used annually at four of its Belgium sites with 30,000 reusable EcoCore cups.
Part of Borealis’ mission to Reduce – Reuse – Recycle, the pilot first reduces the weight of plastics through these extremely lightweight cups, then reuses them to maximise their lifetime before seeking to recycle. This double-closed loop system is Borealis’ latest innovation in driving the circular economy of plastics.
Many reuse initiatives focus on the consumer. Schemes like this can have a relatively low uptake as the burden is on the consumer to decide whether or not they reuse a cup. In the business environment, reuse schemes are less prevalent and there is widespread consumption of single-use plastic cups. By using a double-closed loop, the pilot aims to make reuse schemes more sustainable and economically viable.
Borealis will support its customers and value-chain partners with the implementation of further closed-loop systems.
Lucrèce Foufopoulos, Borealis Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation and Technology, said: “As a leading polyolefins producer, Borealis takes a 360-degree approach in driving the transition to a circular economy … With design for circularity at its core, the Borealis Closes The Loop pilot project adopts our principles of Reduce – Reuse – Recycle. Life demands progress. It’s only by walking the talk that we can inspire the entire value-chain to close loops with us. As an industry, it’s critical we take ownership of where plastics end up. The double closed-loop system is another development in reducing the amount of plastics waste. This is how we re-invent for more sustainable living.”