Dutch Research Center Develops Revolutionary Food-Safe Plastic Recycling Technology
Heerenveen, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
The National Test Center for Circular Plastics in Heerenveen is pioneering breakthrough recycling innovations that could transform Europe’s plastic waste crisis. Led by director Martine Brandsma since 2018, the facility represents Europe’s only industrial-scale laboratory for plastic recycling research. The center is currently testing a patented solvent-based process with Austrian packaging giant Alpla to produce food-grade recycled HDPE – a technology that doesn’t exist anywhere in the EU today. With 70% of projects serving international clients and government backing through the Circular Plastics NL program, this research could enable compliance with 2030 EU regulations requiring minimum recycled content in food packaging, potentially revolutionizing how Europe handles its 25 million tons of annual plastic waste.
Addressing Europe’s Plastic Waste Challenge Through Innovation
The facility’s mission addresses a critical gap in European recycling capabilities. Currently, no approved process exists in the EU for producing food-grade HDPE recyclate [2], despite the looming 2030 deadline when EU regulations will mandate that all food packaging materials except PET must contain at least 10 percent recycled content [3]. This regulatory pressure has created an urgent need for technological solutions that can transform post-consumer plastic waste into materials safe for direct food contact. The center’s work extends beyond testing existing technologies – it actively develops new recycling methodologies by adapting techniques from other sectors, including agriculture and medical applications [1].
Scaling Industrial Innovation Through Strategic Partnerships
The center’s collaboration with Alpla represents a significant milestone in European plastic recycling. The Austrian packaging company, which already operates 14 PET and HDPE recycling sites worldwide with a combined capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year [2], established a dedicated recycling subsidiary in the Netherlands specifically for this four-year innovation project [2][3]. The partnership focuses on developing a patented solvent-based technology that thoroughly cleans and processes post-consumer HDPE waste [2]. Following successful laboratory phases, the process is now being tested under real-world conditions at NTCP’s pilot plant in Heerenveen [2]. Michael Heyde, Head of Technology Recycling Division at Alpla, emphasized the project’s significance: “Currently, there is no certified process in the EU for producing HDPE recycling material in food quality. Our highly efficient technology for cleaning and processing post-consumer recycling material could become a real game changer” [3].
Government Support Drives Circular Economy Transition
The initiative receives substantial backing through the Circular Plastics NL program, administered by RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) on behalf of the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth [1][2][3]. This government support reflects broader Dutch commitments to achieving circularity goals for plastics recycling through collaboration between government, companies, and knowledge institutions [4]. The funding enables NTCP to expand rapidly with new equipment and capabilities [1]. Beyond the Alpla partnership, the center has also supported other innovative projects, including the AI-STRAP initiative that received funding in December 2025 under the EKOO Circular Plastics 2025 program, which aims to create adaptive recycling processes using smart solvent systems and artificial intelligence [6].
Market Impact and Future Regulatory Compliance
NTCP’s research directly addresses imminent EU regulatory requirements. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), taking effect in 2030, will require specific minimum shares of recycled material in packaging [2]. The center’s work with Alpla aims to enable timely submission and approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before this deadline [2][5]. Martine Brandsma, who co-founded NTCP in 2018 with support from the government and Verpact’s predecessor organization [1], stressed the collaborative approach: “At NTCP, we believe that cooperation and independent research are essential to make the plastic chain more circular. Our center helps the entire market and accelerates innovations” [1]. The center currently employs 25 professionals, representing Europe’s largest team dedicated specifically to characterizing, sorting, and washing plastic materials [1]. With nearly 70 percent of current projects serving international clients and partners [1], NTCP’s influence extends well beyond Dutch borders, positioning it as a central hub for European plastic recycling innovation.