Niederzissen/Kaisersesch, November 29, 2022 - Around 12 months after the ground-breaking ceremony, HC Plastics GmbH yesterday opened one of the most modern plastics recycling plants in Germany at its Niederzissen site. In future, around 15,000 tons of plastic waste per year will be prepared here for further processing in industrial processes. By recycling polypropylene packaging film, which was previously mainly incinerated, the company is setting new standards in plastics recycling. Mayor Petra Kalkbrenner and other representatives, including from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, were impressed.

HC Plastics GmbH is a joint venture between two family-owned companies. Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH & Co. KG, already based in Niederzissen, is a recycling expert that has developed innovative sorting technology and machinery in collaboration with specialists from CLASSEN. The group's production company, Akzenta Paneele + Profile GmbH, based in Kaisersesch, benefits from the secondary raw materials produced by recycling, which it uses for its CERAMIN® material to manufacture robust, PVC-free wall and floor coverings.

A total of around 100 interested parties gathered in Niederzissen yesterday, Monday, for the commissioning. Managing Director Christian Hündgen welcomed partners, machine suppliers, press representatives, and official representatives of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, other trade associations, and, last but not least, Mayor Petra Kalkbrenner. In her speech, Kalkbrenner praised the forward-looking concept of the new recycling plant: "Extending the recycling chain actively promotes environmental and climate protection; this is exemplary. I am delighted that our community is home to such a forward-looking (joint venture)."

HC Plastics GmbH is a joint venture between two family-owned companies. Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH & Co. KG, already based in Niederzissen, is a recycling expert. Afterwards, the guests were given a tour of the HC Plastics plant, which initially employs ten full-time staff, to gain an overview of the modern recycling processes. Many waste products, such as yogurt cups and gummy bear packaging, were likely very familiar to visitors from their everyday lives. Due to its soft and loose material properties, PP film was previously considered more or less unsuitable for recycling. As a result, the film was usually incinerated—with the corresponding consequences that the raw material was no longer available for recycling after disposal.

HC Plastics' new sorting technology now enables the material to be further processed into a secondary raw material, which in turn forms the basis for a large part of CLASSEN CERAMIN® floors and tiles. In this way, supposedly worthless plastics are upcycled into a durable, robust, and environmentally friendly product that is itself 100 percent recyclable. A prime example of the circular economy. Together with experts from the CLASSEN, the innovative sorting technology and machinery were developed. The group's Kaisersesch-based production company, Akzenta Paneele + Profile GmbH, benefits from the secondary raw materials produced by recycling, which it uses for its CERAMIN® material to manufacture robust, PVC-free wall and floor coverings.

A total of around 100 interested parties gathered in Niederzissen yesterday, Monday, for the commissioning. Managing Director Christian Hündgen welcomed partners, machine suppliers, press representatives, and official representatives of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, other trade associations, and, last but not least, Mayor Petra Kalkbrenner. In her speech, Kalkbrenner praised the forward-looking concept of the new recycling plant: "Extending the recycling chain actively promotes environmental and climate protection; this is exemplary. I am delighted that our community is home to such a forward-looking (joint venture)."

As a modern, family-run company, Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH & Co. KG offers a high degree of entrepreneurial flexibility. Adjustments to changing ecological or economic conditions can be implemented directly. On the one hand, this guarantees a high ecological standard in terms of environmental protection. On the other hand, in line with the company's objectives, good customer service can be guaranteed through targeted personal contact and advice on all disposal issues.

In addition to the transportation of waste, recyclable materials and mixtures of recyclable materials, the fields of activity of Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH & Co. KG. Planning and development of innovative disposal and recycling concepts for trade and industry, as well as consulting and cooperation with national and international institutes and local authorities round off the wide range of services.

The cradle-to-cradle principle aims to design products in such a way that they can be completely recycled without generating waste. CERAMIN of recycled and recyclable polypropylene (PP) and can be reintroduced into the production cycle after its useful life as flooring. Its material properties make it suitable not only for reuse in new floor coverings, but also for use in other products. This contributes to the conservation of resources and supports a sustainable circular economy.

With Cradle to Cradle Material Health certification, the CLASSEN is sending a strong signal for sustainable innovation in the flooring industry. "This certification is another milestone for our company and shows that sustainable business practices and high-quality product solutions can go hand in hand," explains Sebastian Wendel, responsible for strategic business development at the CLASSEN.