Polysmart Packaging Limited has announced a $60 million expansion to build what it describes as Nigeria’s largest state-of-the-art plastic recycling facility, marking a major milestone for the country’s circular economy and sustainable manufacturing drive.
The company, one of Nigeria’s pioneers in food-grade rPET recycling, said the new facility will significantly scale its ability to transform post-consumer plastic waste into high-quality recycled materials for use by the food, beverage, FMCG, and packaging industries. The first phase of the project is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of March 2026, with the final phase expected to come online in July 2026.
Polysmart said the investment reflects a long-term commitment to tackling plastic pollution while creating economic value across the recycling value chain. Beyond infrastructure and machinery, the expansion is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs spanning waste collection, sorting, technical operations and plant management, providing new livelihood opportunities within Nigeria’s growing green economy.
The new recycling plant will deploy advanced global technologies, including Sorema plastic recycling systems, Tomra sorting solutions, and two Erema Vacunite 2621T V-LeaN SSP units. These technologies will enable the processing of multiple polymer streams, with a strong focus on producing food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate resin and flakes that meet European Food Safety Authority and United States Food and Drug Administration standards. The facility will also produce non-food-grade HDPE, LDPE, and PP materials for industrial use.
When fully operational, the plant is expected to have an input capacity of 100,000 tonnes of mixed plastics annually, making it the largest facility of its kind in the region. This scale is projected to allow the recovery and recycling of more than 5.5 billion PET bottles every year, significantly reducing the volume of plastic waste ending up in landfills, drainage systems and waterways.
The company said local production of certified food-grade rPET will play a critical role in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported virgin plastics, easing pressure on foreign exchange and strengthening supply chains for local manufacturers. By reintroducing recycled PET, HDPE and PP into the manufacturing cycle, the expansion is also expected to reduce demand for crude oil–based virgin plastics and improve overall resource efficiency.
Polysmart estimates that the expanded capacity could deliver carbon savings of up to 170,000 tonnes, supporting corporate ESG commitments and helping brands operating in Nigeria align with global sustainability and circular economy standards. The company added that it is working closely with federal and state environmental agencies to ensure the project meets international benchmarks for safety and environmental protection.
With the expansion, Polysmart aims to reinforce Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for sustainable plastics recycling and green industrial technology, while deepening its role in supplying reliable, locally sourced recycled raw materials to domestic and West African markets.
