Enval, the first packaging recycling company to allow complete recycling of laminate packaging waste, has obtained significant investment from the East of England Co-Investment Fund.

Laminate packaging is a material made up from tightly-packed layers of aluminium and plastic that are hard to separate, such as a drink carton.

The spinout company of the University of Cambridge was supported in its bid at the series ‘A’ funding round by the Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds, Cambridge Angels and Cambridge Capital Group.

This funding round allows start up companies to find very significant amounts of money from investors once the prototype has been perfected.

East of England Co-Investment Fund is managed by IQ Capital Partners. East of England Co-Investment Fund investment executive Larissa Brito said: “Enval’s technology offers an easy, environmentally friendly and much-needed solution for the yet unresolved problem of recycling aluminium-containing packaging. This funding round will enable Enval to accelerate deployment of its ground-breaking technology and enters an exciting phase of growth.”

The Enval process recycles packaging materials containing plastic and aluminium laminates into clean aluminium. Gases and oils produced in the process can also be used for fuel and chemical feedstock and can even fuel the microwave energy used in the Enval process.

Enval acting chief executive and chief technology officer Carlos Ludlow said: “We recognise the importance and established position of the use of plastic and aluminium laminated materials in packaging but equally believe that the current disposal methods being used for them are unsustainable. Using our pilot plant we’ve already demonstrated that the Enval process offers a viable solution to this enormous worldwide problem and with this funding we are now able to accelerate its deployment.”