PolyAl recycling technologies compared: Palurec, Plastigram, Recon Polymers, GetPolyal
Four operators dominate European PolyAl recycling — and they take four very different technical paths. Here is how their processes, outputs and end-uses compare.
If you ask "who recycles PolyAl in Europe?" the honest answer is: a small handful of specialised operators, each with a distinct technical philosophy. This article compares the four main players — Palurec (Germany), Plastigram (Czech Republic), Recon Polymers (Netherlands) and GetPolyal (Spain) — on what their process actually does, what comes out of it, and where it ends up.
The shared starting point
All four start from the same waste stream: the PolyAl reject that paper mills generate after pulping used beverage cartons. By mass that reject is roughly 80% polyethylene and 15–20% aluminium, with minor residues of cellulose and ink. Where the operators differ is what they do with that mixed reject.
1. Palurec GmbH — physical separation
Palurec, headquartered in Hürth (Knapsack chemical park near Cologne), opened its industrial line in April 2021. It is a joint venture of three of the largest carton producers and represents the most ambitious "split it back into pure fractions" approach in operation today.
Process: The PolyAl reject is shredded, washed and then mechanically separated. The polyethylene fraction is recovered as clean PE pellets; the aluminium foil is recovered as a separate granulate, sold back to aluminium smelters.
Output: Two distinct, marketable streams — polyethylene and aluminium — rather than a composite.
Capacity: Originally a few thousand tonnes per year; expanded in 2024 as part of a broader European industry investment programme.
Best for: Buyers who want pure PE recyclate equivalent to mechanically recycled HDPE, plus an aluminium credit.
2. Plastigram Industries — aluLDPE composite for technical use
Plastigram operates from the Sokolov industrial line in the Czech Republic, in operation since the late 2010s. Its product is sold as aluLDPE regranulate — a polyethylene composite that retains the aluminium load as a functional filler.
Process: Mechanical processing of PolyAl reject, with proprietary purification, into a regranulate marketed for injection moulding and technical applications.
Output: Single composite pellet (PE + aluminium together), comparable in concept to GetPolyal's product.
End uses: Injection-moulded technical parts, profiles.
3. Recon Polymers — engineered composite
Based in the Netherlands, Recon Polymers has developed proprietary technology to convert PolyAl into engineering compounds suitable for further processing. Its public positioning emphasises efficient PolyAl-to-plastic conversion at scale, with the aluminium retained as a reinforcing phase.
Process: Multi-step mechanical and thermal processing into engineered pellets.
Output: Engineering-grade composite suitable for direct further processing.
End uses: Industrial plastic parts, technical applications.
4. GetPolyal — ISCC PLUS certified composite for industry
GetPolyal manufactures PolyAl pellets in Spain, produced following the UNE 53925:2026 technical standard. The output is supplied in homogeneous 10-tonne batches with a per-batch technical sheet, palletised in 1000 kg big bags for direct industrial consumption.
Process: Source-segregated PolyAl reject → wash and dry to <0.15% humidity → twin-screw extrusion → per-batch analysis (MFI, density, ash, tensile strength, Vicat).
Output: Single composite pellet retaining up to 13% aluminium as a functional filler.
End uses: Plastic pallets, technical profiles, urban furniture, logistics crates, cable trays, non-structural construction.
Distinguishing features: Compliance with the only existing European technical standard dedicated to PolyAl pellets, plus independent third-party laboratory validation by Tecnalia (UNE 56875:2021 chemical resistance — intensive-use rating — and UNE-EN 14195:2015 torsion compliance).
At a glance
| Operator | Country | Output | Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palurec | Germany | Separate PE + Al | Physical separation |
| Plastigram | Czech Republic | aluLDPE composite | Mechanical regranulation |
| Recon Polymers | Netherlands | Engineering composite | Mechanical/thermal |
| GetPolyal | Spain | Composite produced following UNE 53925:2026 | Wash + extrusion + per-batch analysis |
Which technology is "best"?
It depends entirely on the downstream application.
- For buyers who want pure recycled HDPE plus a separate aluminium stream — Palurec is the natural answer.
- For buyers who want a single, drop-in pellet that already includes the aluminium load as a functional reinforcing filler — composite producers (GetPolyal, Plastigram, Recon Polymers) are the right fit.
- For buyers who need formal compliance with a published European standard — GetPolyal's UNE 53925:2026 conformity is the only one currently available.
The European market is growing fast enough that all four operators are running near capacity. As PPWR mandates kick in from 2030 and EU Green Public Procurement criteria spread, expect the production landscape to expand further — including new entrants and new technical routes.