Change is in the air at Blue Plastics!
We are thrilled to announce that we are undergoing a transformation, and a brand-new logo is on its way. As a symbol of this exciting change, we have hung a curtain over our current logo, eagerly awaiting the reveal of our fresh new look.
Stay tuned for the big unveiling
Ortessa Group announces its participation in plastic recycler Blue Plastics, demonstrating its commitment to innovative and sustainable recovery of valuable raw materials from plastic waste. This collaboration in the supply chain allows Ortessa to handle the supply of plastic waste to the Blue Plastics recycling plant, while TCR Plastics, already committed to the partnership, will take charge of marketing the new raw materials.
Blue Plastics’ CleanBlueTech (CBT) technology is an innovative, solvent-based, closed-loop waste treatment method that removes odors, adhesives, printing inks, and organic residues from all types of plastic film waste. Unlike existing waste treatment techniques that require high temperatures and water consumption, this new technology is a game-changer, reducing energy consumption by 70% compared to primary production and using no water. The end product of Blue Plastics is a transparent and odorless granulate that closely matches the quality of new materials. Initially, Blue Plastics will focus on using transport film, commonly known as packaging film, which has the highest CO2 environmental impact among plastic types due to its short functional use before becoming waste.
Eric Segers, CEO of Ortessa Group, expresses great pride in this partnership. He states, “With the belief that technology and collaboration go hand in hand to contribute to a cleaner world, this collaboration is a prime example of a powerful chain cooperation. Ortessa continually explores promising innovations to address the global waste issue, and in this groundbreaking technology for plastic films, we quickly recognized the potential to make a real difference.”
TCR Plastics owners, Gert and Robert Struijk, are thrilled about Ortessa’s involvement in Blue Plastics. Robert Struijk shares, “Since TCR Plastics’ investment in Blue Plastics, this technology has further proven itself and the process has been refined. In our search for the right strategic partner, we found a perfect match with Ortessa. It’s a remarkable Dutch company with a strong reputation in waste and recycling in the broadest sense.” Gert Struijk adds, “Ortessa’s participation will lead to a unique collaboration that embodies circularity in its purest form. It’s remarkable to see three Dutch companies joining forces to make a substantial contribution to solving the plastic problem and achieving European environmental objectives.”
Stephan Damer, Director of Blue Plastics, emphasizes the need for a consistent supply of plastic waste for the installation being developed on the Brightlands Campus. He explains, “The initial installations will focus on transport films, but in the future, we aim to process other plastic types such as HDPE, PP, and PET. It’s crucial for us to serve the market in the long run, and continuity in the input stream is essential. Ortessa Group’s specific expertise in waste collection aligns with our strategy, and we are delighted that the pleasant and constructive discussions have led to this sustainable partnership. Like Ortessa and TCR Plastics, Blue Plastics seeks opportunities to leave a better Earth for future generations. This collaboration empowers everyone involved while collectively building an innovative solution.”
Blue Plastics’ ambitious vision is aligned with the EU’s focus on water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable packaging. The company aims to establish five factories within the next ten years.
We are more than honored to announce that our technology of recycling flexible film has been nominated for The Alliance Prize. Out of more than 600 submissions, Blue Plastics was chosen to be one of the 5 finalists. We had the ability to pitch our technology during the Award Ceremony in New York and we had the chance to meet many inspiring and like-minded innovators.
This nomination is not just an honor, but also a great recognition for all our efforts. It all started in 2016 with our founder Roel Fransen, who had a dream of solving the problem around plastic waste. We still have pictures of him washing plastic in a dishwashing tub, while he was performing one of his first experiments in a small lab. Since that time, we have learned, developed and grown enormously with a fully functioning washing machine for flexible film onside the Brightland Chemelot Campus in Geleen.
Our nominated solution called CleanBlueTech (CBT) is an innovative, solvent-based, closed-loop washing technology that removes smell, glue, print-ink, and organic residues from any plastic flexible film waste. The current used washing techniques in the market wash under high temperatures and use a lot of water. Blue Plastics’ solution is a gamechanger, as it consumes 70% less energy than prime production and no water. The end-product is an odour-free granulate, close to prime (or virgin) material.
This award was the initiative of The Alliance to End Plastic Waste. With this innovation award, Alliance aims to support change by incentivizing transformative solutions that could aid in solving the plastic waste challenge. The winner of this prestigious prize receives 3M$ in aid of further developing their solution. The nominees were selected based upon their technology’s’ impact, feasibility, scalability and innovation. The jury consisted of a panel of pioneers in the sustainability, recycling and innovation sectors.
This nomination proves that we are part of the solution to end plastic waste.
We are very honoured and would also like to thank all the people who voted for us, and everyone who is supporting us in our mission to create “A Clean World Without Plastic Waste”! Plastic industry and plastic waste recycling is on the brink of a technological breakthrough: it is becoming possible to clean and recycle used plastic better, in a more efficient and sustainable way.
The problem with the majority of recycled plastics is bad odour and low technical properties, that seriously limits its reuse. Blue Plastics puts high-quality circular plastics within reach, by developing an innovative cleaning method that produces odourless plastics, closely corresponding to prime material.
By teaming up with industry partner TCR Plastics, and with support of Innovation Fund of North-Holland, Blue Plastics aims to bring its innovation to the recycling industry and to propel circular usage of polymers.
BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
In October 2020, Blue Plastics team have joined forces with TCR Plastics, a global player and distributor of plastic granulate. The goal is to take plastic recycling to a higher level by developing and implementing a recycling technology that is more efficient, better and cheaper.
Stephan Damer, business manager at TCR Plastics in Breda, explains the motivation behind the investment decision: “The participation in Blue Plastics is in line with TCR’s long-term ambition to have at least 30% of its turnover in recycled plastics. In order to achieve this, TCR is committing with capital and efforts to support promising research and start-ups involved in plastic recycling.
Our core business is to supply plastic granulate to meet market demand. We entered the recycling market back in 2006 with the acquisition of Ovimo Plastics. But the playing field is rapidly changing, and qualitative recycling is going to play a major role in the future and will be the a sought-after solution for the circular use of plastic. We are participating in a unique project that has all the characteristics of a revolutionary breakthrough, and by investing in Blue Plastics and building the pilot plant, we are taking a big step forward. This cooperation is a result of a shared vision of making a serious and sustainable contribution in solving the plastic waste problem.”
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Supported by the European Regional Development Fund, the Innovation Fund North-Holland is an initiative of the Province of North Holland, the University of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam UMC and Sanquin. The fund helps entrepreneurs in the Province of North-Holland with financing innovations during the proof-of-concept phase.
Director at the Innovation Fund North-Holland Wouter Keij, is convinced about urgent need for innovation in the recycling sector: “It is difficult to properly recycle used plastic using existing techniques and therefore it is often incinerated or landfilled. Blue Plastics has developed a unique cleaning process that makes high-quality granulate suitable for new or the same applications. The amount of plastics used each year is raising with the increasing world`s population. Innovative recycling process of Blue Plastics will contribute to circular material flows within the agricultural, transport, packaging and other sectors.”
MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
European directives aim to raise plastic recycling rates to 55% by 2030, alongside encouragement demand from the industry to encourage the plastic recycling industry to innovate the plastic recycling industry at a rapid speed.
Blue Plastics` technology has the potential to make a serious contribution to those goals already in the foreseeable future. At CHILL (Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs) in Geleen, the core of Blue Plastics` process is now successfully running on a laboratory scale. In the coming months, this process is going to be upscaled to a pilot plant on the Brightlands Campus and later on, to the industrial recycling facility.
“As an entrepreneur I know how important it is to find the right partners. Since the establishment of our company, Climate-KIC and RVO have made a major contribution to our success”, says co-founder of Blue Plastics, Tatiana Novoseltseva. “Our mission with Blue Plastics is to bring innovation to the current recycling industry, making plastic a sustainable and circular raw material. But we cannot achieve this alone. It is very important that all participants in the plastic value chain contribute to the change and take responsibility for their impact. We are very proud and happy that TCR Plastics and Innovation Fund North-Holland believe in this project as well. Together with them and our other partners, we will be taking the next steps towards a more sustainable economy.”
Blue Plastics` engineering partner has completed design and construction of the proof-of-concept washing unit. The capacity of the installation is 5 kg/hour, and it is operating in CHILL (Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs) in Geleen.
The purpose of this proof-of-concept is to define optimal working parameters that will be used for the construction of the pilot plant.
