RIYADH: Saudi Investment Recycling Co. has expanded its export of recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, flakes to the UK, following successful shipments to Spain earlier this year.
The company, a subsidiary of the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, announced that its first shipment of heat-washed, recycled flakes has reached a major UK PET bottle manufacturer.
Recycled PET flakes are small plastic pieces made from used polyethylene terephthalate products like bottles. These flakes are processed into raw material for new PET bottles, textiles, and packaging, contributing to waste reduction and sustainability.
The company said the transport was facilitated through the Masab plastic recycling project, in partnership with SIRC’s joint venture, Yadoum, established in 2022.
This milestone represents a significant step for Yadoum as it enters the UK market, a region with substantial demand for recyclable materials.
Earlier this year, SIRC began exporting PET flakes to Spain, with exports surpassing 1,650 tonnes. The company sees this expansion as a key opportunity to strengthen its European partnerships and enhance its export capabilities.
This cooperation, it added, is expected to drive further integration in the PET recycling sector and other related fields.
Ziyad Al-Shiha, CEO of SIRC, said: “We take pride in contributing to Saudi Arabia’s sustainability objectives through this initiative.”
He emphasized the company’s role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diverting waste from landfills, and supporting the Saudi Green Initiative.
In August 2023, SIRC joined the European Petrochemical Association, a network of over 650 companies worldwide, aligning with its strategic goals under Saudi Vision 2030 to reduce landfill reliance and lower carbon emissions.