SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
Companies combine to supply packaging film containing 50% recycled material / New product meets strict EU food-grade requirements
A consortium comprising plastics recyclers, tech specialists, and materials producers has developed a flexible film made with 50% recycled material that meets stringent EU food-grade packaging regulations.
 Available in the UK and Ireland: PepsiCo’s Sunbites in 50% PCR bags (Photo: PepsiCo) |
The new packaging was launched in the UK and Ireland late last year for Sunbites, a snack brand owned by PepsiCo (Purchase, New York; www.pepsico.com).
The process begins when German recycling group GreenDot (Cologne; www.gruener-punkt.de/en) collects post-consumer plastic packaging waste, which is then converted by technology group Plastic Energy (London; www.plasticenergy.com) into Tacoil, a pyrolysis oil.
Related: PepsiCo sued by state of New York over alleged plastics pollution
Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe (London; www.ineos.com) uses the pyrolysis oil as an alternative to fossil feedstock to produce recycled propylene, which it then turns into virgin-quality recycled polypropylene at its plant in Lavera, France.
Italy’s Irplast (Empoli; www.irplast.com) uses the new resin to turn existing plastic packaging designs into new packaging films that contain 50% of post-consumer recycled materials and meets EU food contact performance requirements.
Amcor (Zurich, Switzerland; www.amcor.com) then transforms these films into printed packaging that meets PepsiCo’s technical performance standards.
21.03.2024 Plasteurope.com 1144 [254905-0]
Published on 21.03.2024