FILM | INNOVATION


polymerisation process based on BHET monomer feedstock. The company says that it believes that collaborating with the wider PET value chain on this technology has the potential to enable film-to-film recycling in the future. Polymer suppliers in the packaging sector have been stepping up their work in circular flexible packaging.Dow has introduced its first recycled PE for shrink film applications in North America, which includes up to 40% recycled content in shrink film. It has also developed XUS60030.01 Experimental Low Density Polyethylene Resin which includes 70% certified PCR film. Key advantages of the PCR-rich resin include a final package performance comparable to that of packages made with 100% virgin resins. It maintains recyclability as an all-PE film and offers flexibility to customise PCR content for shrink applications. SABIC has embarked on a pilot project with Schwarz Group, Europe’s largest retail store operator, for the use of transparent film bags made from circular PE. The project includes various PE technologies from SABIC’s Trucircle portfolio based on materials produced via feedstock recycling of mixed and used plastics. Through this project 1 kg bags for organic carrots made of SABIC’s circular PE (LDPE/LLDPE, HDPE and SUPEER metallocene PE) were introduced between October and December 2020 by the retail group into selected Lidl and Kaufland stores in Germany. “Our comprehensive strategy is to make all Lidl


and Kaufland brand plastic packaging as recyclable as possible by 2025, thereby reducing overall plastic consumption by 20%,” says Dietmar Böhm, Managing Director of GreenCycle, which serves as a waste management and recycling service provider for Schwarz Group and other companies. SABIC is also supplying UK supermarket group


Tesco with Trucircle materials to introduce the first recycled flexible packaging based on materials returned by customers. In a trial for cheese packag- ing, an entire supply chain worked together to collect and recycle waste into new food-grade packaging a minimum of 30% recycled material. Chemical recycling company Plastic Energy, SABIC, Sealed Air and Bradburys Cheese worked with Tesco to conduct the trial to demonstrate that flexible plastic can be recycled multiple times into new plastic as a part of a closed loop recycling system. In another initiative, DSM has collaborated with


SABIC, Cepsa, Fibrant and Viscofan to create a multi-barrier casing for meat products made via chemical recycling of post-consumer plastics. DSM Engineering Materials supplies the certified circular polyamide (PA) Akulon CRC-MB. This PA material is


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


Left: Recyclable and sustainable flow-wrap film from Schur Flexibles is being used for self-service minced meat products


produced through a strong value chain collabora- tion involving a range of partners applying a mass balance approach. Firstly, SABIC produces certified circular benzene, based on materials produced via feedstock recycling of mixed-used plastics, which is used by Cepsa to make certified circular phenol. Fibrant then uses the phenol to produce certified circular caprolactam EcoLactam, which is provided to DSM to produce its circular PA. Finally, Viscofan combines the DSM circular PA with SABIC’s circular PE to produce the barrier film for meat casings. Meat packaging has been a focus for other


collaborations. Packaging group Mondi has developed a fully recyclable, mono-material, barrier thermoforming film for meat products in partnership with Austrian meat producer Hütthaler. German retailer Feneberg Lebensmittel has used a new packaging solution – recyclable and sustainable flow-wrap film MonoFlowre – by Schur Flexibles for its self-service minced meat products for in-house butchers. By switching from tray to flow wrap, the two companies have managed to save 70% of the plastic used.


CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: � www.ceflex.eu � www.materialsrecoveryforthefuture.com � www.kidv.nl � www.mas-austria.com � www.plasticrecycling.nl � www.erema.com � www.renner-print.at � ww2.reifenhauser.com � www.r-cycle.org � www.ait.ie � www.dupontteijinfilms.com � www.dow.com � www.sabic.com � www.dsm.com � www.mondigroup.com � www.schurflexibles.com


January/February 2021 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 23


IMAGE: SCHUR


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