Packaging The new material grade is already being trialled by several European dairy companies, some of whom have already launched new products using the r-PS food packaging. The lid or label can be safely separated as part of the recycling process. Trinseo is also working with supplier of sheet for FFS, Coexpan, to validate various PS recycling technologies to develop r-PS fit for use in the global dairy industry’s FFS market. The dairy FFS packaging market, which has historically preferred the use of PS due to its technical superiority over alternative polymers, has recently seen greater interest in alternative materials owing to misperceptions regarding the circularity and recyclability of the material. They expect industrial volumes to come online by the third quarter 2022. Meanwhile, Avient Corporation, which was previously the colour masterbatch businesses of Clariant and Clariant Chemicals India that were bought by US compounder PolyOne, has also launched several new PCR and postindustrial recycled (PIR) portfolios under the reSound R brand name.
Avient’s reSound R portfolio is formulated with recycled ocean plastics
Available are injection-mouldable reSound R VX TPEs with 25% PCR and up to 40% PIR content, formulated with recycled ocean plastics from Oceanworks, within the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a non-profit group that includes Avient as a founding member. Avient also offers nylon formulations that contain 100% PCR resin, and are available in both PA6 and PA66 grades with various levels of glass fibre and mineral reinforcements. For the Asia market, Avient now offers reSound R PC, a range of polycarbonates (PCs) with glass filler levels from 10-30% and recycled content ranging from 25-75%. In-home consumption drives PCR packaging Meanwhile, packaging circularity is apt for application in the food and beverage sector, since it is an all-time largest enduse segment in the sustainable packaging market. Europe is getting a sampling of PCR packaging with an initiative by ice cream brand Magnum to package its frozen delights in tubs made with recycled plastics. This year, Magnum is rolling out over 7 million tubs across Europe, made with certified circular PP from materials firm Sabic’s Trucircle portfolio. These tubs will be launched globally from 2021 onwards.
Magnum is rolling out over 7 million tubs across Europe, made with certified circular PP from materials firm Sabic’s Trucircle portfolio
With more in-home consumption due to Covid-19, the introduction of these tubs and their impact on environment becomes extra relevant as the world prepares for a new future, Magnum said, adding that by end of 2020, it will use an estimated 160,000 kg of certified recycled plastic material. Polyolefins with recycled/renewable content While fossil fuel-based feedstocks will continue to be a mainstay of international companies, many are moving towards the use of more sustainable feedstocks in large-scale commercial manufacture. Spanish companies Repsol, a petrochemical firm based in Madrid, and Torrelavega-headquartered plastic processor AAG (Armando Galvez Group) have developed a new range of circular containers that incorporate recycled polyolefins, recovered by both mechanical and chemical recycling. They also collaborated on creating the first homologated material for an easy-tear film application that incorporates Repsol Reciclex recycled material. Another achievement from the partnership between the two companies has been the industrial bags Repsol uses to market its pellets, which incorporate 30% PCR material. Thanks to a reverse logistics system, Repsol recovers the used industrial bags that, after being recycled, are incorporated into the bag reels that AAG manufactures for Repsol. Austrian polyolefins maker Borealis has launched its Bornewables portfolio, a new portfolio of circular polyolefin Repsol and AAG products, suitable for the production developed a new of demanding applications, including range of circular hygiene and food-contact. Early this containers that year, Borealis also began producing PP incorporate recycled polyolefins, based on renewably-sourced feedstocks, recovered by both such as Neste-produced renewable mechanical and propane, at its Belgian facilities in Kallo chemical recycling and Beringen. SEPTEMBER 2020
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