Russian Cardboard Packaging Recycling Capacities Increased Fivefold
JSC "Packaging Systems", a Russian manufacturer of packaging materials for beverages and dairy products, has presented its first corporate social responsibility report for 2025. The document notes that the combined annual capacity of enterprises accepting composite cardboard packaging has increased fivefold over the past five years, reaching 60,000 tons.
In 2025, the company allocated 22 million rubles for two infrastructure projects. One project involves updating the sorting equipment at the "Sever" waste processing facility in the Moscow region. The other involves co-financing the construction of a processing line in Tambov with a design capacity of 20,000 tons per year.
The "Sever" facility can annually accept up to 450,000 tons of solid municipal waste. After the installation of an eddy current separator, the volume of extracted used composite cardboard packaging almost doubled. "Packaging Systems" announced plans to implement similar solutions in other regions.
A new comprehensive line began operation in Chelyabinsk with a capacity of 10,000 tons per year; this volume corresponds to approximately 312.5 million standard one-liter packs for milk and juice. The paper fiber obtained will be used in the production of egg cartons, and the polymer granules will be used in construction, road maintenance, and consumer goods manufacturing.
Elena Shulyak, Marketing and Communications Director of JSC "Packaging Systems", stated that for the industry it is important not only to have the technical capacity for recycling but also a continuous system that includes packaging extraction at sorting facilities, transportation, demand for secondary raw materials, and the availability of sufficient processing capacities. She pointed out that the company collaborates with partners at all stages, paying special attention to areas critical for returning packaging to the production cycle.
The company also noted that composite cardboard packaging allows dairy products to be stored for up to 12 months without refrigeration. The report connects this with its importance for food security and supplying remote areas. According to the company's statement, all components of such packaging can be recycled at existing enterprises in Russia.
