PET RECYCLING | TECHNOLOGY Making a success of rPET


Processors and suppliers in the PET recycling sector are hitting new records.Peter Mapleston reviews new mechanical and chemical recycling technology and plant investments


The use of post-consumer recycled PET continues to grow. It is now quite easy to find PET bottles contain- ing 20% or 30% of mechanically recycled material, and several bottlers have already started using 50% and even 100% rPET. Chemical recycling is also on the rise. But many issues still remain unresolved. Legislation regarding use of rPET in food contact applications could be clearer, for example. Where is the best place for rPET – more bottles, or sheet and fibre applications? Can mechanical and chemical recycling sit happily side by side? PET recycling technology group Starlinger says


that since 2018 there has been a boom on the PET recycling market, and it looks like it will continue for some time. It says: “On the one hand, this is due to the stricter guidelines for plastic packaging and higher recycling rates set by law makers. Most EU states will have to raise their collection rates significantly over the next years. On the other hand, national and international brand companies are important driving forces, creating a market for recycled PET.” Starlinger says the outstanding performance of


its super-cleaning processes for recycled plastics destined for food contact applications has been confirmed by several FDA letters of non-objection


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


in the US, more than 50 EFSA positive opinions from customers all over the world, as well as by country-specific food contact approvals of multina- tional food and drink brand owners. These process- es are said to guarantee thorough decontamination using a combination of temperature, vacuum, or overpressure, as well as required residence times. “Particularly in the field of PET recycling we have


experienced significant growth since 2018,” says Paul Niedl, Head of Sales at Starlinger Recycling Technology. This growth has been fuelled by plastic packaging legislation and higher recycling rates initiated at EU level and by individual coun- tries, along with the trend for brand owners to set their own plastics recycling goals. To cater for the increased demand for recycling


lines, Austria-based Starlinger last year opened a new manufacturing location at a factory (operated by UniROTA Maplan Schwerin, a company affiliated with the Starlinger Group) in Schwerin, Germany for assembly of its largest RecoStar PET processing systems, which are capable of output rates of up to 3.6 tonnes per hour. Recycling systems with higher output capacities are also increasingly sought after and Starlinger has added a new machine size: the 215 mm screw-size model fits between units with


March/April 2021 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 27


Main image: Bottles and food trays are two applica- tions that


flourish in the PET recycling sector


IMAGE: STARLINGER


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52