Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams Expanded EU Carton Recycling Capacity with New Plant in The Netherlands
In a major step forward for recycling infrastructure in Europe, Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams announced a €3 million investment to establish a new recycling plant in Ittervoort, The Netherlands. The facility, which was set to commence operations in the second half of 2025, aimed to significantly enhance the recycling capacity for the non-fibre components (polyAl) of used beverage cartons in the European Union (EU).
Strategically located near the borders of Belgium and Germany, the plant was designed to process up to 20,000 tonnes of polyAl annually, accommodating the entire volume of beverage cartons recycled in Belgium and The Netherlands, and part of the volume from Germany. This project complemented the existing 8,000-tonne capacity at Recon Polymers’ facility in Roosendaal, also in The Netherlands, bringing a substantial boost to the region's recycling capabilities.
The initiative built on the existing EU recycling network, which already included 20 specialized paper mills for fibre recycling and 10 facilities processing polyAl. This collaboration between Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams underscored their commitment to advancing the circular economy through innovation and investment.
Kinga Sieradzon, Vice President of Collection & Recycling at Tetra Pak, remarked: “The launch of this new plant marked a significant milestone in enhancing recycling capabilities for beverage cartons across the region. Through our partnership with Yellow Dreams, we exceeded The Netherlands' official recycling targets and continued to drive progress in the circular economy. Our global investments, which reached €40 million annually, demonstrated our ongoing dedication to improving carton recycling infrastructure.”
Bas Gehlen, Managing Director at Yellow Dreams, reflected on the collaborative effort, stating: “This project showcased the transformative potential of polyAl recycling and highlighted the importance of partnerships in building a circular system. Together, we made a meaningful impact on the environment and inspired further adoption of circular economy practices.”
The plant’s operations focused on transforming recycled polyAl into valuable materials for a range of products, including pallets, crates, outdoor furniture, flower pots, and tiles. This effort aligned with Tetra Pak's broader goal of enhancing material circularity and reducing reliance on virgin plastics.
Tetra Pak's journey in polyAl recycling began in 2019 with its partnership with Recon Polymers. By 2021, the collaboration resulted in a commercial plant in Roosendaal, which saw an additional €1 million investment in 2023 to increase capacity. The new facility in Ittervoort, based on similar technology, represented a natural evolution of these efforts, reinforcing Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams' shared commitment to advancing sustainable practices and achieving ambitious recycling targets across Europe.
Once operational, the plant was expected to benefit multiple countries by contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for beverage carton recycling.