— By Plasteurope.com correspondent — 

The Spanish plastics technology centre Aimplas (Valenica; www.aimplas.net), compatriot flexible packaging film manufacturer Covinil (Madrid; www.covinil.com), and Spanish supermarket chain Eroski (Elorrio; www.eroski.es) have teamed up to launch the Bottle4Flex project. The aim of the venture is to develop fully recyclable skin packing containers made from rPET.

Related: Chemical recycling in Spain set for boom

The three-year Bottle4Flex project focuses on promoting solvolysis processes for recycling and changing the properties of PET through partial depolymerisation. Technologies such as reactive extrusion, monomers, and additives will also be used to increase the flexibility of the recycled PET, Aimplas said. 

According to project partner Eroski, the recycling process can address the current shortfall in rPET production capacity, which is currently at 35,000 t, while demand is at 54,000 t. Eroski went on to say that this development is anticipated to influence the packaging industry, particularly in areas lacking solutions for monomaterial films, including those used in skin and vacuum packaging.

The Spanish supermarket chain highlighted that Europe intends to invest EUR 7.2 bn in chemical recycling initiatives. This funding aims to support the objectives of the European Union’s Circular Economy Strategy, which mandates that all plastic packaging be fully recyclable by 2030.

The research initiative receives funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, as well as the European Union, through Next Generation funds, as part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, according to Aimplas.