“Each and every recycled plastic bucket counts”
Without cooperation in the supply chain there can be no circular economy. To reduce the carbon footprint and promote the sale of reusable plastics, FeedValid has entered into a partnership with FIRE-OFF. This young company from Haaksbergen collects used plastic buckets and processes them to create new raw materials. Sam Schippers, Business Development Manager at FIRE-OFF, is delighted with this new partnership. “If we want to meet our climate targets, we need to take action as a supply chain. Each and every recycled plastic bucket counts!”
FIRE-OFF is a startup of Dijkstra Plastics and was set up to ensure that as many plastic raw materials as possible can be reused. “Did you know that many high-quality materials still end up in incinerators in the Netherlands? Around 52% of all plastic packaging materials are incinerated each year. Dijkstra Plastics wanted to do something about this, as these high-quality materials can form the basis for a new raw material. This ambition led to the establishment of FIRE-OFF”, Sam explains. “We collect used plastic buckets and grind them into tiny pieces, known as flakes. These flakes undergo hot and cold washing and are then processed into granules, which Dijkstra Plastics can use to make new buckets for the non-food sector, such as the paint industry.”
More than 2.5 tonnes of buckets
“We started out in 2022 on a very small scale”, continues Batuhan Gündoğdu, Operations Coordinator at FIRE-OFF. “We bought a van and collected empty ‘frietsaus’ (Dutch mayonnaise) buckets from catering outlets in the area. Soon after that we approached several production companies and also got in touch with clients of Dijkstra Plastics. Wherever we suspected there would be empty plastic buckets, we spoke to people. This brought us into contact with FeedValid, which processes a large number of buckets containing waste foodstuffs at its production sites. They were immediately open to a collaboration. FeedValid is also working hard on initiatives to accelerate the circular economy”, Sam explains. “We have since collected more than 2.5 tonnes of buckets from FeedValid, which have been mechanically recycled. This quickly reduces CO2 emissions by 50% in comparison to incineration!”
A win-win situation
“It’s an all-round, win-win situation. Our service enables FeedValid to reduce some of its waste streams, lower its CO2 emissions and ensure that fully recyclable packaging is actually recycled rather than ending up in incinerators”, summarises Batuhan. “In addition, we very rarely drive back to Haaksbergen with empty trucks these days. This also helps to reduce CO2. On the way out we deliver new Dijkstra Plastics buckets and on the way back we pick up used buckets here and there, ready for recycling.”
100% circular
An increasing number of companies are finding out about FIRE-OFF. Sam: “We are growing pretty quickly, with more than 130 active clients, and we’re bursting with ambition. Just like FeedValid, we want to become a forerunner when it comes to the circular economy and raw materials transition. Last year we recovered half a million PP buckets and HDPE cans from the market. We want to double that figure this year and fully recycle these items into new buckets and cans.” “We remain fully focused on innovation. For example, we are working on the development of an online dashboard that will allow FeedValid and other partner companies to see exactly how much CO2 they have already saved by having us recycle their buckets. We are setting the bar high and thinking big. If we can all work together as a supply chain, we will really be able to make a difference. I’m convinced of it”, concludes Batuhan.