World News East Timor to become world’s first plasticneutral country
EAST Timor is set to become the world’s first country to recycle all its plastic waste after it teamed up with Australia to build a revolutionary recycling plant. The US$40-million plant will ensure that no plastic, once used in the Southeast Asian nation, would become waste, but would instead be turned into new products. Australia’s Mura Technology have established a non-profit called RESPECT that will run the plastic recycling plant, expected to commence by the end of 2020. In many parts of Asia, fast-growing economies and populations, coupled with huge coastlines and densely populated cities, have filled local seas with trash and plastic waste. The new plant will use chemical technology that quickly turns plastic waste into liquid or gas without adding mineral oil, which no other recycler can do as well. Run at no cost to Asia’s youngest democracy, all profits will go toward supporting community projects and waste collectors in East Timor, which must first find funding to build the recycling facility. The same technology is currently planned for other recycling plants in Canada, Australia and Britain. If successful, RESPECT will be used as a model for other developing countries suffocating in plastic waste.
Engel posts higher sales despite auto slowdown
AUSTRIAN injection moulding machinery maker Engel Holding GmbH has seen its sales rise 6% year-overyear to €1.6-billion for the fiscal year to end-March, but it warned of a global slowdown in its biggest end market. The company said it had noticed a worldwide decline in production since last summer. “It is difficult to gauge the impacts of punitive tariffs and sanctions, Brexit and the debate around regulatory limits and bans on diesel, which has resulted globally in feelings of uncertainty and a reluctance to buy,” Engel said. In China, the automotive slowdown accounted for ‘a significant share of the decrease’ in economic growth, according to Gero Willmeroth, president for East Asia and Oceania at Engel. “Overall, we’re expecting a sideways movement for Asia for the current fiscal year,” Willmeroth added. Europe remains Engel’s largest overall sales region, accounting for 54% of sales. Asia accounted for 21% and the Americas another 24%.
Berry of USA completes
purchase of RPC 290 locations, 48,000 employees
BERRY Global Group completed its acquisition of RPC Group Plc for a purchase price of approximately $6,5-billion, which includes approximately $4,3-billion cash paid for the equity interest in RPC and $2,2-billion of net debt and estimated transaction related costs, subject to closing adjustments. The combination of Berry and RPC creates a leading global supplier of valued-added protective solutions and one of the world’s largest plastic packaging companies. Berry’s combined global footprint will consist of over 290 locations worldwide, including locations in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The combined business will employ over 48 000 people across six continents with sales of approximately $13-billion based on the latest published financial statements of Berry and RPC. The acquisition of RPC was financed with a portion of the proceeds of Berry’s sale (in May) of $1,25-billion of 4.875% first priority senior secured notes due 2026 and $500-million; of 5,625% second priority senior secured notes due 2026; as well as a $4,25-billion incremental term loan and a €1,075-billion incremental term loan, which also served to refinance an existing Berry term loan. www.berryglobal.com
Colgate recyclable toothpaste tube COLGATE has finalised the design for a first-of-its kind recyclable toothpaste tube that sets a new standard in the industry. Most toothpaste tubes are made from sheets of plastic laminate sandwiched around a thin layer of aluminium that protects the toothpaste’s flavour and fluoride, but is impossible to recycle through conventional methods. To make a recyclable tube, Colgate chose HDPE. But because HDPE is rigid, it isn’t well suited for ultra-thin laminate sheets and soft, squeezable tubes. Colgate’s ‘eureka moment’ came when their packaging engineers recognised that they could use more than one grade of HDPE in their designs. The team then tested a dozen different combinations – using from 6 to 20 layers – to find the recipe that allows people to comfortably squeeze out all the toothpaste, protects the integrity of the product, and meets the demands of high-speed production.
76 AUG / SEPT 2019
WORLD NEWS-1.indd 76
2019/08/06 10:10