Sustainable Converting
Introducing the next generation of sustainable woven plastic packaging
W
ith overflowing landfills and plastic waste in the ocean, the issue of plastic pollution is no longer merely a concern
of environmental activists. It has become a matter of public interest and government legislation, and has also prompted big retailers to embrace waste reduction and recycling programs. The trend towards sustainable packaging has
been growing significantly in recent years, bringing into focus reusability, bio-degradability
and recyclability of the packaging materials. With the development of the production technology for woven plastic sacks made from rPET, Starlinger & Co now offers the opportunity of closed-loop production for this type of packaging. “Starlinger builds on decades of experience in
woven polypropylene sack production, a type of packaging that is reusable and recyclable,” says Stéphane Soudais, head of Starlinger’s Consumer Bags Division. “Since 2013 we can produce PET tape fabric from virgin PET and recycled PET pellets on our machines which can be used for a variety of packaging applications. Now we have achieved another breakthrough in working with recycled PET; we can produce rPET tapes directly from PET bottle flakes.” Fabric made of PET tapes can be converted to
various types of woven sacks or used for technical applications, for example carpet backing or geo- textiles. For Soudais, fabric made of rPET flakes brings in an interesting advantage: “With this material, producers of woven plastic packaging have the option of true closed loop production.”
SUSTAINABLE AND THEN SOME PET is a plastic that can be recycled and ‘upcycled’ economically. In many countries there are functioning collection and recycling schemes for PET which provide a source for recycling material. In the area of consumer products, where many stakeholders are already putting a focus on
sustainability, fabric produced from rPET flakes can be used for various types of sacks. They provide an attractive packaging for dry bulk goods such as fertiliser, building materials, pet products (such as cat litter or pet food), as well as grains and flour. PET tape fabric stands out for its aroma and grease barrier as well as its food safety; rPET fabric produced using Starlinger decontamination technology meets US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements for use in food packaging. For packaging users who want to switch to woven rPET sacks for filling their product, only low investment is required.
100 PER CENT CLOSED LOOP PACKAGING THAT CATCHES THE EYE For consumer applications, attractive package design is possible by laminating the rPET fabric with reverse printed BOPET film, which gives the sacks an attractive shelf appearance. A perfect example of eye-catching design on a sustainably produced bag are rPET PP*STAR bags – pinch bottom type bags that are produced on machinery developed by Starlinger. Made of polypropylene, they are already a popular packaging for sensitive products such as dry pet food. Now, they can be produced directly from PET bottle flakes. rPET PP*STAR bags are a very sustainable packaging option that gives the product both a high-class look and best possible protection; they are fully recyclable and can be used to produce PP*STAR pinch bags again – or any other woven plastic bag type – thereby closing the loop in the packaging cycle.
www.starlinger.com
Connecting certified forests to the marketplace T
he Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC UK), held two Stakeholder Seminars in January,
aimed to provide attendees with a clear understanding of what lies behind the PEFC label, and why sustainable forest management and Chain of Custody certification are so important to businesses trading in timber and wood-based products. Entitled ‘Connecting Certified Forests to the
Marketplace’, the seminars were held in London and Birmingham. There were sessions on the PEFC label and what it guarantees; information was also available on the rigorous certification procedures behind PEFC certification, with the aim of helping to better equip organisations to promote their certified status to their customers. PEFC UK welcomed attendees from across the
paper, print, packaging and timber related industry sectors, and discussions topics included sustainable forest management, Chain of Custody certification and how to use the PEFC label. The events closed with a discussion on the challenges, benefits and opportunities having PEFC Chain of Custody certification presents. Commenting on the 2017 Stakeholder Seminars, PEFC UK’s executive director, Alun
www.convertermag.co.uk December/January 2017 19
Watkins, says: “We ran several of these seminar sessions at locations around the country in 2016 and they proved to be very popular. We are keen for as many of our stakeholders as possible to benefit from these free sessions to enable them to learn more about the PEFC programme.” PEFC, as a leading forest certification system,
has certified more than 300 million hectares of forests to PEFC’s internationally recognised Sustainability Benchmarks, supplying more than 18,000 Chain of Custody certified companies
with responsibly sourced timber and wood products, such as those used in producing fibre- based paper products such as packaging. Today, more and more companies are keen to demonstrate that the fibre they use in their packaging materials comes from a certified sustainable source. This is important as consumers are increasingly conscious of how their purchasing decisions impact on the world’s natural resources.
www.pefc.co.uk
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