Planter Launch

Tesco and PALTECH collaborate to bring waste plastic flowerpot to the Irish market

Tesco and PALTECH collaborate to bring waste plastic flowerpot to the Irish market

New Recycled Plastic Flowerpots Break the Mould 

25th April 2022

Tesco Ireland and indigenous manufacturing companies, Green Generation and Paltech, have today unveiled their flower planters made of 100% recycled soft plastic. 

Tesco has a strong record in plastic waste recycling and in 2021 was the first Irish retailer to introduce in-store customer return collection points for soft plastics from product packaging.  

This latest green innovation sees customer waste soft plastic taken to a purpose-built site in County Offaly where it’s cleaned, sorted and moulded into slate-grey flower planters. The new heavyweight pots, which are now on sale in Tesco stores nationwide, have an impressive durability and long lifespan and weigh 7 kilos each, and can also be further recycled at their end of life, through the Paltech unique process. Each planter can be used to grow garden plants and flowers* and in turn, improve biodiversity.  

The recycled plastic pot, designed and made in Ireland, from 100% mixed plastic packaging, is the result of an innovative partnership with Paltech, a sister company of Tesco’s food waste partner, Green Generation. The Kildare company recently commissioned a new €2 million facility in Clara, County Offaly to manufacture recycled plastic products, including flowerpots. The facility, which employs 15 people, will recycle an estimated 70 tonnes of customer waste plastic to create 10,000 plant pots over the coming months. 

Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett said: “This is a good example of the circular economy in action. I welcome the investment in Clara and the new jobs it brings. It is a tangible example of waste plastic being recycled into useful products. I hope as many shoppers as possible will think about how they can recycle their plastic waste. This offers an opportunity to do that at the point of sale.”  

Joe Manning, Commercial Director, Tesco Ireland, said “When it comes to plastic, our priority remains to remove where we can, or reduce its use on our products when we can’t remove it completely. Where it serves a purpose, such as protecting a product or preventing food waste, we are working hard to ensure that the packaging material is recyclable for consumers and can go on to be used again.   

Bringing these flowerpots to the market, made entirely from end-of-life waste soft plastic, is an important step in creating a closed loop solution for plastic at this time. We recognise we have more to do and continue to work hard to meet our target of making all packaging on Tesco-brand products fully recyclable by 2025.” 

Paul Costello, Green Generation director, commented “We’re very proud to have worked with Tesco over the last year as we developed and refined our circular approach for mixed soft plastic waste, and to bring this product to the market under the Paltech brand. ‘ 

We continue to work with our engineers to improve our innovative system for long-life products to support the country’s ambition in reaching the EU recycling commitment of 55% of all packaging waste to be recycled by 2030,” 

Using Paltech-patented technology, these waste soft plastics can be repurposed into construction materials that, in turn, have the scope to be used in the Tesco Ireland store network for new stores, and in store maintenance and refits including buildings, car-park barriers and signage in the near future. 

The recycled plastic pots will be available for sale in 76 Tesco stores this April and will retail at €25. They will be available for sale throughout the Spring/Summer season.  

 

Full Press Release: Tesco Ireland

In the Media:

Irish Times

 

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Tesco Ireland Announces Partnership with PALTECH

No repro fee
4-2-21
Tesco Ireland has today become the first Irish retailer to create a recycling solution for soft plastics. 
The retailer is rolling out soft-plastic collection points (pictured) for customers at its 151 stores nationwide and by March this year will accept unwanted soft-plastics from customers at the end of their shopping trip. 
Partnering with indigenous Galway based start-up Paltech, who have created a patented technology, soft plastics will be flaked and processed into construction materials to be used in the Tesco Ireland store network for new stores, in store maintenance and refits including buildings, car-park barriers and signage, in the near future. Pic:Naoise Culhane-no fee

Tesco becomes first Irish retailer to recycle soft plastics for customers

Waste turned into new solid structures including car-park barriers and signs

Customers can dispose of soft plastics from purchases in Tesco’s 151 stores

4th February 2021

Tesco Ireland announced today it has become the first retailer in Ireland to create a recycling solution for soft plastics. To date soft plastics have not been recyclable through the national household recycling bin infrastructure in Ireland.

Partnering with Irish manufacturing company Paltech, Tesco will now be able to recycle materials such as coloured soft plastics for the first time.  Using Paltech patented technology, these plastics will be flaked and prepared for processing into construction materials to be used in the Tesco Ireland store network for new stores, and in store maintenance and refits including buildings, car-park barriers and signage, in the near future. 

At instore collection points, made from waste plastic, to be rolled out to all 151 stores by March 2021, customers will be able to simply remove unwanted soft plastic packaging – such as cling wrap or outer wrap from water bottle multi-packs – at the end of their shopping trip.  

Ms Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland, said she is very proud her business is the first retailer in Ireland to create a recycling solution for soft, coloured plastics, which cannot currently be recycled using the kerbside infrastructure in Ireland. 

“Our overall ambition is to only use plastic which serves a clear purpose. We are listening to our customers and working to make changes where we can. We know we have more to do, and today, we’re proud to be the first retailer to provide a recycling solution for soft plastics in Ireland. We’re particularly proud to partner with Paltech, an indigenous start-up, as we seek to address the recycling of soft plastics within Ireland.” Ms Daniels said.

Adrian Doyle, Research and Development Director Paltech, said that Paltech is proud to partner with Tesco on their journey as the first Irish retailer to close the loop on their mixed soft plastic waste.

“Paltech has developed a proprietary manufacturing solution, that can repurpose all types of post-consumer plastic packaging into products with a long lifespan, which can also be further recycled at their end of life.”

“Paltech is looking forward to working with Tesco to extend the range of products that they can use throughout their store network to ensure that the closed loop system continues to operate for many years to come. Our partnership with Tesco is an exciting step forward to support Ireland in reaching the EU recycling commitment of 55% of all packaging waste to be recycled by 2030,”

Full Press Release: Tesco Ireland

In the Media:

RTE Report

Follow us on:

https://twitter.com/paltech_ie

https://www.linkedin.com/company/polymer-alloy-technology-t-a-paltech/

Newstalk Interview 10 Feb 2021

Jan 2021 ArticleCompress

PALTECH Awarded EPA Green Enterprise Innovation Funding

PALTECH Awarded EPA Green Enterprise Funding

17th January 2021
Building on the success of the technology in 2020, PALTECH has been awarded an EPA Green Enterprise Innovation for a Circular Economy Grant. PALTECH will utilise this funding to “Recycle Waste Farm Plastics into On-Farm Livestock Drinkers”.

Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy is an annual funding programme specific to the policy area of the circular economy and aims to develop innovative practical applications and solutions that stimulate priority thematic areas of the circular economy: plastics; construction & demolition waste; food waste and resources & raw materials.

 

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PALTECH Awarded “Career FIT PLUS” from Enterprise Ireland

PALTECH and AIT awarded Marie Sklodowska Curie “Career FIT PLUS” from Enterprise Ireland

24th March 2020

Collaboration between PALTECH and AIT was boosted today with news that Enterprise Ireland will support a 3 year project to develop recycled plastic reinforced with glass fibre under the Marie Sklodowska Curie “Career-FIT PLUS” programme, and is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

Career-FIT plus enhances the training and mobility of experienced researchers. Fellows of the program receive both an academic and industry based mentor. This structure ensures scientific and career progression with exposure to two symbiotic environments for innovation and commercialisation. Congratulations to Hadi Hesabi who will start his fellowship in June 2020.

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PALTECH Awarded EPA Green Enterprise Funding.

PALTECH Awarded EPA Green Enterprise Funding

9th December 2019
PALTECH has been awarded EPA Green Enterprise funding to develop a pallet manufactured from post consumer plastic waste. Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy is an annual funding programme specific to the policy area of the circular economy and aims to develop innovative practical applications and solutions that stimulate priority thematic areas of the circular economy: plastics; construction & demolition waste; food waste and resources & raw materials. The project will be led by PALTECH in collaboration with Green Generation Ltd and Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT).