Veolia to Build UK’s Largest Closed-Loop PET Recycling Facility

In a major step toward sustainable packaging, Veolia has announced plans to develop the United Kingdom’s largest food-grade PET recycling plant. Backed by a £70 million (~$90M) investment, the facility will be located in Runcorn, Cheshire, and is set to begin operations in early 2026.

The new plant will specialize in closed-loop recycling, converting used PET trays and bottles into high-quality food-grade PET. Once operational, it will process over 60,000 tonnes of PET plastic annually—enough to produce more than 1.6 billion new recycled bottles and trays every year.

Why This Matters:

• Circular Packaging Boost: Supports UK’s move toward a closed-loop system, reducing reliance on virgin plastic.
• Retail Partnerships: Major UK grocery brands are expected to source recycled content directly from the plant.
• Environmental Impact: Could save 100,000+ tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year by replacing virgin plastic with rPET.