Borealis

Borcycle™ C

Swiss dairy company Emmi partners on more sustainable CAFFÈ LATTE drinking cups.

In the past, a ‘coffee to go’ was a phenomenon mostly associated with America. The trend has crossed the globe, accelerated by the recent pandemic, which has prompted increased outdoor socializing and dining. But it’s not only hot drinks; different types of cold drinks – including iced coffee – are also on the menu. 

Committed to the future 

Emmi is Switzerland’s largest milk processor. As part of its commitment to climate protection and the circular economy, the company has declared that it wants to make all its packaging 100% recyclable by 2027. It is also committed to various measures to promote circularity, such as packaging that contains at least 30% recyclate. Its successful Emmi CAFFÈ LATTE brand is leading the way by incorporating chemically recycled polypropylene into its iced coffee drinking cup.

The potential of chemical recycling 

The strong development-focused partnership between Emmi, Greiner Packaging and Borealis, has resulted in Emmi CAFFÈ LATTE using at least 100 tonnes of plastic based on chemically recycled polypropylene each year. Greiner Packaging produces the cups from Borealis’ Borcycle™ C – recycled material with a level of purity fit for protective, food-safe and other demanding applications. 

Chemical recycling enables chemical raw materials to be recovered from plastics waste that is otherwise difficult to recycle mechanically. These materials have the same properties as plastics from traditional production (“virgin plastics”) and are approved for use with food.  

The chemical recycling technology required to recover polypropylene is still developing. As a result, only limited quantities of chemically recycled polypropylene are currently available. In the future, depending on the availability of suitable material, the amount of recycled plastic in Emmi CAFFÈ LATTE packaging will be further increased. 

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About Borealis 

Borealis is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and a European market leader in base chemicals, fertilizers and the mechanical recycling of plastics. We leverage our polymers expertise and decades of experience to offer value-adding, innovative and circular material solutions for key industries. In re-inventing for more sustainable living, we build on our commitment to safety, our people and excellence as we accelerate the transformation to a circular economy and expand our geographical footprint. 

With head offices in Vienna, Austria, Borealis employs 6,900 employees and operates in over 120 countries. In 2020, Borealis generated EUR 6.8 billion in sales revenue and a net profit of EUR 589 million. OMV, the Austria-based international oil and gas company, owns 75% of Borealis, while the remaining 25% is owned by a holding company of the Abu-Dhabi based Mubadala. We supply services and products to customers around the globe through Borealis and two important joint ventures: Borouge (with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC, based in UAE); and Baystar™ (with TotalEnergies, based in the US). 

About Emmi

Emmi is the largest milk processor in Switzerland. Its roots go back to 1907, when it was founded by 62 dairy farmer cooperatives around Lucerne. Over the past 20 years, Emmi has developed into an international, listed group of companies. In doing so, Emmi has followed a long-standing, successful strategy based on three pillars: strengthening the Swiss home market, growth abroad and cost management. An important credo that has accompanied Emmi throughout its corporate history is a strong sense of responsibility towards people, animals and the environment. 

In Switzerland, Emmi produces a full range of dairy products for its own brands and customers’ own brands, including export hits such as Emmi CAFFÈ LATTE and Kaltbach. In addition, there are locally manufactured products depending on the country – mostly in the specialities segment. In addition to cow’s milk, goat’s and sheep’s milk is also processed. 

The Emmi Group has 25 production facilities in Switzerland. Abroad, the company has subsidiaries in 14 countries, including production facilities in 8 of them. Emmi exports products from Switzerland to around 60 countries. In addition to its home market of Switzerland, the company’s business activities focus on Western Europe and the American continent. Sales of CHF 3.7 billion – around 10 % of which comes from organic products – are divided roughly equally between Switzerland and other countries. Of the almost 8,900 employees, more than two-thirds are now employed at locations outside Switzerland. 

About Greiner Packaging 

Greiner Packaging is a leading European manufacturer of plastic packaging in the food and non-food sectors. The company has enjoyed a reputation for outstanding solutions expertise in the fields of development, design, production, and decoration for more than 60 years. Greiner Packaging responds to the challenges of the market with two business units: Packaging and Assistec. While the Packaging unit focuses on innovative packaging solutions, the Assistec unit is dedicated to producing custom-made technical parts. Greiner Packaging employs a workforce of nearly 4,900 at more than 30 locations in 19 countries around the world. In 2020, the company generated annual sales revenues of EUR 692 million (including joint ventures), which represents approximately 35 percent of Greiner’s total sales. 

Upsyde, a joint venture of Braskem and Terra Circular, is committed to making a tangible impact by upcycling mixed and hard-to-recycle plastic waste.
Borealis continues to invest in the expansion of its advanced mechanical recycling capabilities by building a commercial-scale plant in Schwechat, Austria.
The acquisition of recycler Heathland B.V. in January 2022 by Trinseo served as an important milestone in its strategic positioning within the market and enhances its footprint as a sustainable solutions provider.

Dow

In July 2022 Dow and Mura Technology announced their joint commitment to scale the chemical recycling of plastics.