Smurfit Kappa opens new recycling plant in Spain

The plant is expected to process more than 30,000 tonnes of recovered paper annually. A fleet of eco-friendly hybrid vehicles collect paper and board from households and businesses. This is then sorted at the plant and sent to the Smurfit Kappa Mengibar containerboard mill where it is converted into board that is used to create new packaging.

The plant is designed to ensure the highest standards in health and safety and its proximity to the city center makes it an ideal strategic partner for the city of Malaga, according to Smurfit Kappa.

Ignacio Sánchez, recycling country manager for Spain at Smurfit Kappa, said: ‘We are proud to open the doors of this innovative new plant which is further evidence of our ongoing commitment to sustainable development.

‘Paper-based packaging is 100 percent recyclable. All corrugated, solid board and folding carton can be put through a process to make it into another box in as little as 14 days, demonstrating a truly closed loop approach.’

Henri Vermeulen, vice president of Smurfit Kappa Recovered Paper, added: ‘This facility will play a significant part in our ongoing strategic priority to ensure the permanent availability of enough good quality recovered paper to guarantee the demands of all our customers in the chain. We are therefore very pleased to have opened another recovered paper plant.’

Smurfit Kappa has a global network of specialist recycling plants. It recently completed the purchase of a 12,000sqm site in Blackburn, UK to significantly increase its recycling capabilities in the region.