Coveris and SABIC pioneer closed-loop recycling for medical packaging

The initiative successfully demonstrates that used medical plastic packaging can be recycled and transformed back into new, contact-sensitive medical packaging

Coveris, a leading European manufacturer of paper and plastics packaging, has partnered with SABIC to launch a groundbreaking circularity project in healthcare packaging.

The initiative successfully demonstrates that used medical plastic packaging can be recycled and transformed back into new, contact-sensitive medical packaging, marking a major step forward in sustainable healthcare solutions.

Hospital plastic waste remains a significant and growing environmental challenge. Across Europe, an estimated 1,700 kilotonnes of non-contaminated polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) medical waste are incinerated annually, despite being technically recyclable. While patient safety and sterility are paramount in healthcare, these strict standards have historically made implementing circular systems difficult.

In a pioneering breakthrough, Coveris has joined forces with SABIC, Zuyderland Medical Centre, healthcare brand Artivion, and other partners to prove that a fully closed-loop system for medical packaging is achievable. Within SABIC’s Trucircle initiative, the partners developed a model that transforms hospital plastic waste into high-quality, certified circular polyethylene, suitable for use in new medical packaging. This collaboration represents the first closed-loop healthcare packaging initiative of its kind.

The project began in 2024 at Zuyderland Medical Centre in the Netherlands, where a new waste collection system was introduced to separately gather non-contaminated plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated. The collected waste is sent to SABIC, which processes it into pyrolysis oil and then converts it into certified circular Trucircle PE resin that meets stringent medical standards.

Coveris then reintroduces this resin into the medical packaging value chain. At its Halle site, Coveris extrudes film from the Trucircle PE resin, and at its Rohrdorf facility, converts the film into sterile pouches. These pouches are supplied to Artivion for packaging vascular surgery guidewires, which are subsequently delivered back to Zuyderland Medical Centre—completing the full circular loop. The resulting packaging solution now contains 25 per cent material attributed to non-contaminated medical waste.

This collaboration exemplifies Coveris’ No Wastevision, which aims to eliminate waste in all its forms—product waste, packaging waste, and operational waste—across all industries. By transforming hospital-generated plastic waste into new, certified circular packaging materials, the initiative showcases how systemic innovation and cross-sector partnerships can conserve resources and advance a more sustainable healthcare industry.

Jan-Willem Bruijsten, Segment Director Medical at Coveris Group, stated: “At Coveris, we see collaboration as key to achieving a circular future, and we are extremely proud to be part of this pioneering initiative. It proves that circularity in healthcare packaging is not only possible but scalable. This partnership perfectly embodies our No Waste vision and demonstrates the meaningful impact we can create by joining forces.”

Khaled Al-Jalawi, Global Circular Economy Director at SABIC, added: “We are excited about this groundbreaking circular business model, which highlights the power of collaboration across the medical ecosystem. Non-contaminated medical plastic waste represents a valuable feedstock opportunity, and SABIC’s Trucircle solutions can play a major role in advancing circularity within the healthcare sector.”