ECOEMBALAJES ESPANA, S.A.

Their core work

Ecoembes is Spain's national non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the collection, sorting, and recycling of lightweight packaging waste (plastic, metal, paper/cardboard, and beverage cartons). In H2020 projects, they contribute real-world packaging waste management expertise, access to Spain's municipal recycling infrastructure, and industry knowledge of packaging value chains. Their role in EU research focuses on testing circular economy solutions for plastic packaging at scale — from bio-based material substitution to improved collection and sorting systems. They bridge the gap between laboratory-developed packaging innovations and the operational realities of national-scale recycling systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Ecoembes entered H2020 in 2017 with a strong focus on mechanical recycling improvements and circular design for conventional plastic packaging (CIRC-PACK, PlastiCircle). By 2019, their participation shifted toward bio-based plastics and sustainability assessment (BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE), reflecting the broader European policy push away from fossil-based plastics. This progression shows a move from optimizing existing recycling systems to exploring material substitution as a complementary strategy.

Ecoembes is moving from end-of-pipe recycling optimization toward upstream material innovation, making them a valuable partner for projects exploring bio-based or compostable packaging alternatives that must integrate with existing waste management systems.

How they like to work

Ecoembes participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, which is consistent with their role as an industry body contributing real-world infrastructure and market knowledge rather than leading research. With 61 unique partners across just 3 projects, they operate in large Innovation Action consortia (averaging 20+ partners per project). This means they are accustomed to complex multi-partner coordination and can plug into large EU projects without friction.

Ecoembes has built a broad European network of 61 unique partners across 19 countries through just three projects, giving them connections spanning packaging manufacturers, material scientists, waste management operators, and policy bodies across nearly all EU member states.

What sets them apart

Ecoembes is not a research lab or a company — it is the operational backbone of Spain's packaging recycling system, managing collection from millions of households. This gives them something few project partners can offer: the ability to validate packaging innovations against real municipal waste streams and recycling infrastructure at national scale. For any consortium developing new packaging materials or recycling processes, Ecoembes provides the critical link between lab results and market deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE
  Largest EC contribution (EUR 336,111) and longest duration (2019-2024), representing Ecoembes's strategic shift toward bio-based plastic sustainability.
• CIRC-PACK
  Most keyword-rich project covering the full circular packaging spectrum — from biobased material design to new business models and organizational innovation.