UK chemicals giant Ineos (London; www.ineos.com) has teamed up with dairy brand Lactel, which is owned by Lactalis International (Choisy-le-Roi / France; www.lactalis-international.com), to manufacture what they call “advanced recycled” plastic milk bottles. A trial run of 140,000 bottles produced from rHDPE will be made, Ineos said. Lactel claims it is the first dairy brand to look into producing UHT milk bottles from post-consumer recycled polyethylene, in collaboration with Ineos.

The French firm’s Montauban plant had achieved certification from Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (Geneva / Switzerland; www.rsb.org) in April 2021. The recycled plastic milk bottles are compliant with food safety regulations and are fully recyclable, according to Ineos.

Xavi Cros, chief executive of Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe/South, said both companies were committed to sustainability. “Via advanced recycling, we are able to supply virgin quality polymer from recycled plastic that is ideal for even the most demanding food contact applications like milk. Another big step in the right direction.”