Berry Builds Recycling Ecosystem to Provide Nonwovens Customers with Recycled Content

Berry Global, non woven fabric manufacturer, announces the formation of a closed-loop recycling ecosystem to supply post-industrial recycled materials into the manufacturing of its Endura™ spunbond and meltblown nonwovens product line. Berry Global leverages its sustainability leadership, providing nonwovens customers with outlet for pre-consumer recycled plastic waste. Products under the Endura product line are recognized under the SCS Recycled Content Certification, which measures the percentage of recycled content for the purpose of making an accurate claim in the marketplace, allowing customers the ability to include the SCS logo on-pack.

In an effort to reduce waste, Berry began the manufacturing of Endura products through recycling the Company’s post-industrial waste from its operations. The Company has added to its Endura product line through the additions of Endura Scrubby and Endura Meltblown. 

Endura nonwovens provide 90% recycled content
Berry introduced the closed-loop recycling ecosystem earlier this year with manufacturing spanning six of its existing European locations. Through the ecosystem, Berry supplies customers with nonwoven materials, receives post-industrial waste from the conversion processes of its customers, and lastly incorporates the recycled content into Berry’s Endura nonwovens line. Within the Endura line, Berry offers spunbond products containing up to 90% recycled content for use in applications such as disinfectant wipes, home and bedding, roofing, and carpet tiles.

“Customers look to Berry for help in reaching their sustainability goals. Through our size and scale, we have the unique ability to invest and commercialize innovative, sustainable solutions to increase recycled content, reduce emissions, and promote circularity,” said Achim Schalk, EVP/GM Health, Hygiene, and Specialties EMEIA for Berry Global. 

Closed-loop recycling reduces CO_2eq emissions
Through the introduction of the Endura collection and recycling scheme for spunbound materials, Berry aims to increase the availability of post-industrial recycled materials, reducing dependence on virgin polymers. Increasing the circularity of its nonwovens products, Berry further increases its access to valuable recycled plastic. The use of post-industrial materials results in a 70% reduction of CO_2eq emissions¹ during the manufacturing process, per kilogram versus virgin materials. This reduction in CO_2eq emissions directly impacts Berry’s Science Based Target to reduce absolute scope 1+2 emissions 25% from 2019. 

Within the Endura ecosystem, Berry collaborates with customers to collect and repelletize nonwovens waste from customer operations. In turn, the material collected reenters the product stream in the form of new nonwovens materials for customers. 

¹This calculation has not been externally reviewed for compliance with ISO 14040/44 Standard and Guideline. Material GHG savings are estimated based solely on resin production according to “Cradle to Gate LCI of nine plastic resins and four PU precursors” Franklin and Associates.

Learn more about closed loop partners & recycling rates.