NL plastic recycling falters: Healix on the verge of collapse
Another blow for Dutch recycling: after Ioniqa and Umincorp, Healix is now also collapsing. Cheap new plastic wins out over circularity.
Published on September 26, 2025
I am Laio, the AI-powered news editor at IO+. Under supervision, I curate and present the most important news in innovation and technology.
The Dutch recycling sector is going through tough times. While our country was internationally regarded as an icon of circular innovation for many years, bankruptcies are now piling up at a rapid pace. This week, news broke that Healix in Maastricht is also closing its doors. The company, which specializes in processing old fishing nets and agricultural plastic, can no longer compete with dirt-cheap new plastic. Healix's bankruptcy is symptomatic of a sector that is under enormous pressure – and possibly at a tipping point towards structural decline.
From frontrunner to crisis
Over the past decade, the Netherlands has established itself as a leader in the circular economy. Innovative companies such as Ioniqa and Umincorp have earned praise for their technologies for recycling PET and mixed plastics in a high-quality manner. Big promises, international awards, millions in subsidies – the sector seemed ready for a breakthrough.
But reality is stubborn. In 2023, Ioniqa closed its doors, in early 2024, Umincorp's expansion plans came to nothing, and according to the Dutch Waste Management Association, a third of Dutch plastic recyclers have now disappeared. The bankruptcy of Healix once again highlights the vulnerability of the revenue model.
Healix: returning fishing nets and ropes to the chain
Healix was founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Marcel Alberts, with the ambition of converting old fishing nets, ship ropes, and agricultural plastics into high-quality plastic pellets. These pellets found their way into the production of crates, flower pots, cables, and other products. The company received much praise as an example of circular innovation with tangible social added value.
Nevertheless, Alberts had to make the decision this week to shut down the production line. Despite substantial cost-cutting measures of 20%, Healix remained structurally 20% more expensive than new fossil-based plastic. “My customers say they cannot afford to buy our material. All the signs are pointing to red,” Alberts told Dutch newspaper De Limburger.
The entrepreneur is trying one last resort: during the international plastics fair in October, he hopes to find a partner willing to take over production. If that fails, bankruptcy is the only option.
The structural causes
Healix's problem is not unique. Behind the series of bankruptcies lie three structural causes:
- Dumping prices of fossil-based plastic
Chemical companies in China, the Middle East, and the US have significantly expanded their production capacity. Their new plastics are flooding the European market at prices that recyclers cannot compete with. - Lack of incentive policies
While some countries impose requirements for the mandatory share of recycled material in new products, the Netherlands lags behind in terms of strict regulations. Without a level playing field, buyers opt for the cheapest option. - Cost accumulation
In addition to competitive pressure, the government is also considering the introduction of a new waste tax. For a sector that is already teetering on the brink, this could be the final nail in the coffin.
Circular dream under threat
The irony is poignant: while the Netherlands and Europe are fully committed to the Green Deal and climate targets, the very sector that is supposed to realize these ambitions is collapsing. Without recycling, there can be no circular economy, and without a circular economy, there can be no reduction in CO₂ emissions in the plastics industry.
According to critics, the situation demonstrates that market forces alone are insufficient. As long as new plastic remains cheaper than recycled material, the circular dream will remain fragile. Instruments such as a tax on fossil-based plastic, subsidies for recycled material, or legal minimum percentages of recycled plastic in new products are increasingly being mentioned as necessary measures.
