"Every ton of recycled plastic improves the world".

HC Plastics' new recycling plant in Niederzissen

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.  

Joint venture combines recycling expertise

HC Plastics GmbH is a joint venture between two family businesses. Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH & Co. KG, a recycling expert based in Niederzissen, developed the new sorting technology and machinery together with specialists from the CLASSEN Group. The Group's Kaisersesch-based production company, Akzenta Paneele + Profile GmbH, benefits from the secondary raw materials generated by the recycling process, which it uses for its CERAMIN^® nutzen, um daraus robuste, PVC-freie Wand- und Bodenbeläge zu fertigen.

A total of around 100 interested parties gathered in Niederzissen for the commissioning yesterday, Monday. Managing Director Christian Hündgen welcomed partners, machine suppliers, members of the press 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: "By extending the recycling chain, we are actively protecting the environment and the climate; that is exemplary. I am delighted that our municipality is home to such a future-oriented (joint venture)."

Upcycling of plastic films into environmentally friendly wall and floor coverings

Afterwards, the guests present were able to gain an overview of the modern recycling processes during a guided tour of the HC Plastics plant, for which ten full-time employees are currently working. Many waste products, such as yogurt cups or gummy bear packaging, were probably very familiar to the visitors from everyday life. PP film was previously considered more or less unsuitable for recycling due to its soft and loose material properties. Therefore, the film was usually incinerated - with the corresponding consequences that the raw material is no longer available for the cycle after disposal.

HC Plastics' new sorting technology now enables the material to be further processed into a secondary raw material, which in turn is to a large extent the basis for CERAMIN^® floors and tiles of the CLASSEN Group. 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.

About CLASSEN Group:

Our almost 2,000 employees and management team have been living this vision since 1949, while respect for our planet and a permanent consumer empathy have brought the CLASSEN Group to what it is today. Our innovations include numerous patents and an exceptional ongoing search for a durable and long-lasting future.

Under the motto "Floors For A Better Tomorrow." the CLASSEN Group decided many years ago to develop floor and wall coverings that are completely free of harmful substances. For example, the use of chlorine, PVC or particularly harmful plasticizers is dispensed with. Through the use of recycled materials and the guarantee that CERAMIN^® zu 100 Prozent recyceln zu können, leistet das Unternehmen einen richtungsweisenden Beitrag zur Kreislaufwirtschaft.

About Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH & Co. KG:

As a modern structured family business, Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH & Co. KG offers a maximum 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, a good customer service can be guaranteed in the sense of the entrepreneurial objectives by targeted personal approach and consultation in all disposal questions.

Thus, in addition to the transport of waste, recyclable materials and mixtures of recyclable materials, their sorting and also the marketing and utilization of secondary raw materials in international trade are among 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 complete the wide range of services. 

Pictures from the official commissioning can be found here: https://cloud.classen.de/main.html?download&weblink=9f2b7bf2e24544b24105ed1a226374aa&realfilename=221129_eroeffnung_hcplastics_photos.zip