Vecoplan offers processing solutions for the implementation of the PPWR

Bridging the gap between regulation and reality...

The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), which comes into effect on 12 August 2026, sets clear targets for the use of recycled materials. In practice, however, the question of “how” often remains unclear. Rising costs and uncertain framework conditions are currently limiting the circular economy’s full potential. However, modern shredding and cleaning technologies, along with well- designed processing concepts such as those offered by Vecoplan AG, already demonstrate how regulatory targets can be translated into practical solutions.

The ongoing raw materials crisis and increasing cost pressure are creating significant challenges for the plastics industry. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are confronted with rising prices and a lack of planning certainty, which is increasingly inhibiting investment. Nevertheless, plastics will remain a valuable and essential material within modern value chains. As a result, European regulation – especially the PPWR – is becoming increasingly important. Its aim is to establish a binding framework for the use of recycled materials and thereby promote long-term investment security. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the detailed implementation of these requirements. While the introduction of mandatory recycled content quotas is regarded as an important step towards a functioning circular economy, current market conditions make short-term implementation more difficult. In particular, the price advantage of virgin plastics over recyclates represents a structural obstacle. “As long as virgin plastics are often cheaper than processed recyclates, we face a structural problem,” says Tim Hamer, Director Sales at Vecoplan AG. “Naturally, users will therefore only employ recyclates to a limited extent; ultimately, it is a question of economic viability.”.

Not just clean, but pure – a focus on material quality

With the PPWR, mandatory minimum shares of recycled content in plastic packaging are being defined for the first time. This makes the availability of high-quality recyclates—materials suitable not only for traditional downcycling applications but also for demanding packaging solutions—increasingly important. Against this backdrop, a key bottleneck is becoming increasingly evident: the purity of the material streams. The quality of recyclates depends not only on sorting technologies, but also, crucially, by the composition and contamination level of the input material. Foreign polymers, paper fractions, mineral residues and organic contaminants significantly increase processing effort and lead to higher reject rates. Even minor contamination can substantially impair the mechanical properties of recyclates and hinder further processing. As contamination levels increases, costs rise across the entire process chain—from sorting and cleaning to the processing of residual materials. At the same time, achievable material quality declines, meaning recyclates are often limited to less demanding applications. Downcycling, therefore, is often not a deliberate market decision, but rather the direct result of insufficient purity. “Plastic purity determines the economic viability of recycling processes. The challenge lies less in the ‘whether’ and more in the ‘how’ – that is, achieving the required purity efficiently and consistently under real-world conditions,” says Tim Hamer.

Greater efficiency through integrated processing concepts

This is precisely where modern processing concepts come into play – at the intersection between required purity and economic efficiency. The key lies in the optimal interaction of all process stages, from shredding and sorting through to cleaning. Only when these stages are properly aligned can consistent material qualities be achieved that meet demanding requirements, such as those in packaging or food applications. By combining its expertise in shredding with integrated cleaning technology, Vecoplan AG takes a holistic approach that clearly distinguishes itself from isolated, stand-alone solutions. Three aspects are central to this approach: process stability, application-specific processing, and economic efficiency. As Tim Hamer explains: “A key lever for reducing operating costs lies already in the shredding stage. Energy consumption and throughput are decisive factors in determining costs per tonne. By optimising cutting geometries and designing shredding systems for specific applications, efficiency gains of up to 30 per cent can be achieved.”

Dry cleaning as a key component

Vecoplan AG, which recently announced the integration of its subsidiary Pla.to, a specialist in cleaning technology, places particular emphasis – alongside its shredding solutions – on dry cleaning. This process operates entirely without the use of water. Whether as a stand-alone step or in combination with wet-chemical processes, it is becoming an increasingly important and flexible component within the overall processing chain. Depending on the application, dry cleaning fulfils different functions. In some recycling applications, it enables sufficient material quality, making energy-intensive wet cleaning unnecessary. In more complex processes, it serves as a pre-cleaning stage, significantly reducing water consumption in downstream washing processes. It also plays an important role in chemical recycling by reducing residual moisture and thus enabling the production of extrudable flakes. “For us, the key lies in a consistently application-oriented concept. Not every application requires maximum purity, but it does require a specifically achievable level of quality,” concludes Tim Hamer.

Against the backdrop of the PPWR, companies such as Vecoplan AG demonstrate that technological implementation is already feasible. The decisive factor in successful implementation will be to align regulatory targets with economically viable solutions. While the core obligations of the PPWR are established and take effect on 12 August 2026, implementing legislation on specific details – such as the recycled content quotas set to apply in stages from 2023 – is still expected to follow through to 2040.Flexible technologies such as dry cleaning can already help reduce investment uncertainty and support the gradual further development of existing processing concepts.