NEWS Euro project recycles bioplastics


A new pan-European project will attempt to boost the recycling of bioplastics. ReBioCycle, which began this month, will establish separate ‘hubs’ for mechanical, chemical, enzymatic and microbial recycling. These will be located in the Nether- lands, Italy, Spain and Ireland. The project aims to demonstrate the


impact of obtaining the same or superior grade of three types of recycled bioplas- tics – PLA, PHA and composites – in higher-value applications. European Bioplastics and its mem-


Union ire at Berry closure


Canadian trade union Unifor has criticised Berry Global – which says it will permanently close a film manufacturing plant in Edmonton. The factory makes plastic film for building greenhouses and wrap- ping hay bales in the agricultural industry. Berry bought the facility four years ago. “We do not accept that this closure was neces- sary,” said Lana Payne, national president of Unifor. “Suddenly shutting down the plant with little notice shows a true lack of communication and respect for our members.” The closure was


announced on 11 Septem- ber and the first round of layoffs took place two days later. The plant closure affects 58 employees. � www.unifor.org � www.berryglobal.com


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bers – including TotalEnergies Corbion, Aimplas, Novamont, Sulapac and Kaneka – are among the 20 project partners. “Current recycling technologies for


recycling biodegradable plastics are limited,” said Jan Pels, managing director of Torwash, which leads the Dutch hub. “With this project we are going to make them widely available – then nobody can claim that biode- gradable plastics cannot be recycled.” ReBioCycle will separate the three types of bioplastics by adapting and


upscaling existing sorting technolo- gies. It will also propose a range of bioplastics recycling technologies at a relevant scale and demonstrate their effectiveness. This will result in a position paper on the status of bioplastics recycling, to provide a contribution to various European action plans and strategies. ReBioCycle has received €7.5 million in funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme. � www.european-bioplastics.org


PVC dialysis bags turned into hospital floor tiles in Thailand


SCG Chemicals is part of a project that will recycle PVC dialysis bags into flooring – to renovate four hospitals in Thailand. The pilot installation will take place at Prince Suvarnabhumi Hospital and later expand to three more – for a total area of more than 9,000 sq m. “Used PVC dialysis solution bags are a form


of medical waste that is increasing in volume,” said Chatri Eamsobhana, chief commercial officer of SCG Chemicals. “When properly collected and reintroduced into the system for advanced recycling, they can be transformed into new, valuable products.” Krittavith Lertutsahakul, managing director of


project partner Princ, added that 25,000 dialysis patients in Thailand each require 1,460 dialysis solution bags per year – generating 1,740 tonnes/year of PVC medical waste. � www.scgchemicals.com


Orion adds tyre pyrolysis in Poland


Orion is installing tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) tanks at a plant in Poland to boost production of ‘circular’ carbon black. After delivery, the TPO is pumped to furnace black reactors that transform the


FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | October 2024


oil into carbon black. Orion says it is the only producer that has made carbon black from 100% TPO. As well as providing carbon black to industries including plastics, it helps the tyre sector cut waste.


“Our partnership with


TPO producers underscores our commitment to sustain- ability,” said Pedro Riveros, senior vice president of global rubber carbon black at Orion. � www.orioncarbons.com


www.filmandsheet.com


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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