A new chapter in Belgium’s recycling story begins today as Morssinkhof-Rymoplast Group, an Ingka Investments’ portfolio company since 2017, breaks ground on a state-of-the-art plastics recycling facility in Lommel which will service approximately four million (80%) of Belgian households.
As a significant step towards the transition to a circular economy, Morssinkhof-Rymoplast Group breaks ground today on its 13th recycling facility – and third in Belgium. Once operational, the new plant will turn everyday household waste such as milk bottles, butter tubs, and shampoo containers into high-quality recycled materials that can be used in packaging for example, personal care products.
Despite mounting challenges in the recycling sector, from rising costs and labour shortages to shifting regulations, this development sends a clear signal that building a circular future takes bold commitment, collaboration, and long-term investment.
That’s why earlier this year, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, announced a €1 billion ambition through Ingka Investments to support recycling infrastructure and other circular projects across Europe. The Morssinkhof Rymoplast Group is a key partner in realising that ambition.
The new facility is being developed in collaboration with the Belgian organisation Fost Plus and will enable the recycling and processing of household packaging and plastics, collected through the national PMD system (Plastic, Metal, and Drink cartons). It’s also expected to create 65 new jobs.
“This groundbreaking marks a circularity milestone for households in Belgium,” says Nathalie Van Edom, Sustainability Manager at IKEA Belgium. “At Ingka Group, we already use recycled household plastics produced by Morssinkhof-Rymoplast in products like our HÅLLBAR waste sorting bins, helping give materials a second life. Now, thanks to this collaboration, we’re taking it a step further and our Belgian customers will see the direct impact of their recycling efforts with products made from their own butter tubs returning to their homes”.
Belgium is rapidly boosting its recycling capacity. Just five years ago, only 9% of household plastic packaging was recycled domestically. Today that figure is an impressive 69%. With multiple facilities coming online, and thanks to strong cooperation between citizens, industry, and government that number is projected to surpass 75% by next year.
Evy Morssinkhof, Organisation & Business Development of Morssinkhof-Rymoplast Group, adds: “Despite the challenges facing the recycling industry, we remain fully committed to our mission: transforming plastic waste into high-quality materials that can be used again and again. This new facility is not only an investment in infrastructure but a promise to Belgian households that their efforts to recycle make a difference.”
Lukas Visser, Head of Circular Investment at Ingka Investments
“This new facility shows the power of collaboration – between households sorting their waste, companies supporting recycling, and governments supporting the transition. At Ingka Group, we are committed to grow business partnerships that turn sustainable living at home into reality by expanding recycling infrastructure, keeping plastics circulating in the economy and out of the environment.”
About Ingka Investments
Ingka Investments is the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer. With a focus on long-term value creation, Ingka Investments drives sustainability and growth through responsible investments that support the vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people. It operates across six strategic areas: forestland, renewable energy, real estate, circular, financial markets, and business acquisitions and venture investments. Ingka Investments supports the transition to a circular economy by investing in companies that are growing recycling infrastructure to close the gap between capacity and demand. www.ingka.com/what-we-do/ingka-investments/
About Ingka Group
With IKEA retail operations in 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents about 90% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on www.ingka.com
About Morssinkhof-Rymoplast
The family-owned Morssinkhof-Rymoplast Group was founded in 1961 and has been playing a leading role in the European plastics recycling industry ever since. The Group has 13 processing facilities in Europe and produces 500,000 tonnes of secondary raw materials annually from post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste streams from households and global retail brands such as IKEA, Coca-Cola and Unilever.
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