POLIFILM subgroup wins Energy Efficiency Award from Deutsche Energie Agentur

The latest subgroup of the POLIFILM Group, POLICYCLE, has been awarded in the category “Think Big! Complex Energy Transition Projects” by the German Energy Agency (Deutsche Energy Agentur). The award ceremony took place during the Energy Transition Congress on Monday, November 13, in Berlin.

The Fluff-to-Film project impressed the jury with its groundbreaking recycling technology, which saves an entire processing step compared to traditional mechanical recycling while simultaneously enhancing the quality of the end product. The project focuses on recycling previously challenging film waste and reuse it in new film solutions, bypassing energy-intensive process steps of regranulate processing. During the testing phase, the end product in focus is the garbage bag. Produced using the Fluff-to-Film technology, it exhibits the same quality as market standard types but is three times thinner. In addition to material savings, the crucial point for the award is the energy savings in the production process. While film waste is typically shredded, melted, (re-)granulated, and cooled before being reheated and extruded again for film production, the new production technology eliminates the need for heating, melting, and cooling. After shredding, the old films are heated and directly processed into new ones.

Michael Koll, Managing Director of POLICYCLE Germany, is delighted being awarded, stating, “We are thrilled that the potential of modern recycling technologies for the plastics industry has been highlighted in such a way. It acknowledges our commitment to drive positive changes in the recycling industry and to contribute actively to the circular economy.” With the latter, Koll refers to POLICYCLE’s mission, which goes beyond being a recycling specialist. The company sees itself as an circular economy enabler, actively establishing return concepts with POLIFILM Group customers in the future (more details in the press release below). Fluff-to-Film represents one of the first milestones in this direction.

About the Energy Efficiency Award 2023

Since 2007, dena has been internationally awarding the Energy Efficiency Award. Sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and in collaboration with premium partner KfW, approximately 116 applications were submitted this year from both domestic and international participants. An expert jury evaluated the competition entries in four categories and additionally granted a special prize for small and medium-sized enterprises. The award ceremony took place as part of the dena Energy Transition Congress.

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