Dairy company Müller UK & Ireland (Market Drayton / UK; www.muller.co.uk) said it has concluded a deal to buy Nampak’s (Newport Pagnell / UK; www.eu.nampak.com) UK bottle manufacturing plants adjacent to Müller's Bellshill and Manchester dairies. It is part of a move for the dairy firm to make its own fresh milk packaging, incorporate more recycled plastic in its bottles and eventually cut its use of plastics. Nampak last year said it sold two UK plants, but gave no details (see Plasteurope.com of 06.12.2017).

Müller, a subsidiary of Theo Müller (Luxembourg; www.muellergroup.com), is also in advanced negotiations to purchase Nampak’s UK bottle manufacturing “assets” adjacent to its Foston and Severnside dairies. It aims to complete these transactions in October 2018 and in the autumn of 2019, respectively, when current supply contracts expire.

Financial details were not disclosed. Müller said the “multi-million pound move” would help accelerate its use of recycled plastics in its bottles to 50% by 2020.

Up to 30% of the plastic in Müller’s fresh milk HDPE bottles is currently made from recycled materials. Plastic bottles for its branded and private label fresh-milk products are already 100% recyclable. Müller said the newly acquired assets would also be used “to pursue innovative new packaging solutions” in partnership with customers.

It intends to make a “substantial investment” in the Severnside plant once acquired. However, no details of this measure have been given.