Tetra Pak, the global packaging leader, has partnered with South African plastics specialist Cycliq to launch Africa’s first recycled polyAl-based E-pallet. This innovation addresses logistical efficiency and showcases an alternative approach to recycling beverage cartons. The announcement follows another polyAl pallet initiative in Italy that led to the formation of Newpal.
Crafted from a blend of high-density plastics and polyAl—a composite material derived from recycled Liquid Board Packaging (LBP)—the E-pallet is designed to reduce waste, enhance supply chain durability, and promote circular economy principles in the African market.
“This partnership with Cycliq is a significant stride towards sustainable industrial innovation in South Africa,” said Klaus Plenge, Managing Director of Tetra Pak South Africa. “By reusing materials from recycled beverage cartons, we’re delivering a product that is not only highly durable but also plays a role in reducing waste. It’s an example of how collaboration and innovation can drive meaningful progress in environmental stewardship.”
The E-pallet is equipped with practical features such as non-slip grommets, stackable designs, and options for RFID integration, making it ideal for a wide range of industries. According to an announcement, the introduction is expected to boost the recycling rate of beverage cartons across Southern Africa, currently at over 20% as of mid-2024, by creating a new demand for polyAl materials.
“The E-Pallet is a testament to how we can push the boundaries of sustainable manufacturing. By introducing Africa’s first E-pallet, we’re demonstrating the immense potential for locally-produced solutions that cater to the highest environmental responsibility and logistics performance standards,” added Graham Colman, Cycliq’s Managing Director.
Italian Success with Lucart and CPR System
The African E-pallet launch follows the success of similar recycling initiatives in Europe, particularly in Italy. Tetra Pak’s collaboration with Lucart, a prominent recycler, and CPR System, a leader in retail logistics, led to creating a new pallet in that country. Lucart and CPR System established Newpal in 2019, a company dedicated to producing returnable pallets from polyAl.
“We started thinking about this project back in 2015 focusing on the remarkable drive for environmental sustainability and the circular economy of CPR System and Lucart,” Lauro Guidi, President of Newpal S.p.A., commented in an October 2021 article.
“Newpal was established in 2019 and completion of the factory in the province of Ferrara for pallet molding and ancillary equipment is currently underway,” he continued. “The production of recycled plastic pallets using ‘GranPlast’ material made by Lucart will begin in the second half of 2022. The new pallets will completely replace those currently in use by CPR System, which will be our primary – but not only – customer. Newpal will operate as a supplier to the market offering a range of products for an array of applications.”
The Newpal facility began operations in early 2023. It uses low-pressure injection molding technology to produce up to 250,000 pallets annually, each containing 70% recycled polyAl.
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Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
