PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2014

MATERIAL / RECYCLING 18 PET planet insider Vol. 15 No. 01+02/14 www.petpla.net What has been achieved so far? Hellen McGeough of PCI described the status quo – in her presentation ”2012 PET bottle collection and recycling & PET thermoform collection overview“. Achievements in practice and in the real world are remarkable, according to Hellen Mc Geough, but develop- ments and progress are certainly not driven by the legislators in Brussels and the Associations that reside or are domiciled there. By contrast, industry is concerned for its business, particularly the major players such as Coca Cola, Danone and/or Nestle, for example, or with the converters APPE, Alpla or Valorplast, who see threats, then recyclers such as the Swiss Poly Recy- cling, whose business is recycling, and including and especially local munici- palities and authorities with their major concern to keep their cities clean and nature pristine. The European balance sheet for 2012 fosters this. Hellen McGeough presented four pieces of analysis: 1) Collection by country – collection reached 1,675,000t in 2012, up 5.6% compared with previous year – Germany, France and Italy repre- senting 47% of the total collected volume. 2) Consumption by country – total collection rate is 52.3%, i.e. an increase on 2011 of 1.3% - with countries such as Norway, Estonia, Germany and Switzerland leading the way. 3) Reclamation capacity by company and country – 6.6% growth input capacity in 2012 – output capacity increased in the same period by 7.4%. Can bio-materials replace PET? Is progress in terms of European recy- cling threatened by the new recoverable bio-materials? Ed de Jong of Avantium spoke about ”Replacement – Bio-mate- rial development: PEF“. Avantium is a bio-based Chemical Company in the Netherlands. Ed de Jong is responsible for feed stock selection and catalytic biomass conversion of carbohydrates into chemical building blocks for poly- ester such as PEF. And he is convinced that his product PEF is an improve- ment of PET and polyester and is to be defined as Avantium YXY technology for the next generation of polyester. Partners in the development of 100% bio-based PEF bottles are once again Coca Cola, Danone and Alpla – and Wifag-Polytype for PEF thermo- formed products. PEF features claimed: superior barrier performance over PET (O2, H2O, CO) – improved thermal stabil- ity over PET – excellent mechanical properties – significant reduction of carbon foot print. With such proper- ties existing markets may be entered, new markets developed – such is the concept of Aventium. Ed de Jong stated: “Food con- tact studies are finalised. The goal is: 100% bio-based and 100% recycla- ble polyester. PEF will be recycled to PEF. We can foresee a transition period with PEF and PET recycle streams. We are conducting trials of potential effects of PEF in RPET and PET in RPEF streams”. PEF can be converted in PET plants without changing the injection moulding and blow moulding machin- ery. However, as far as the processors are concerned, reliable resourcing constitutes a condition and a pre- requirement for dealing with the new material. In addition, the questions regarding the sustainability of the harvests and social acceptance need to be answered, where controversial competition arises between natural feedstock (C6-sugars) used form plas- tics versus feedstock/crops for food for humans and animals. Avantium, privately managed and determined, a contrast with public institutions, will apparently go ahead with the PEF project, without strings and hesitation. The YXY pilot plant in Geleen/Netherlands was opened in 2011. Construction of commercial plant in 2015. Start of commercial PEF production will be in 2017. Jonathan Short posed what is arguably the most important question in his presentation, “What stops us improving recycling in the EU?” Jonathan Short should know: he is the Director Business & Commercial Development Indorama, and is speak- ing about real basic life in recycling for ECO Plastics Limited (part of Indo- rama), a recycler in UK - 150,000t/a processing capacity. Jonathan Short outlines the regrettable PET Recycling Situation in UK:  PET collection at 50% only;  UK prematurely pushed for inter- mixed plastics collection  UK systems fragmented: 400 col- lection authorities in UK  more than 100 different collection systems in place.  Real recycling life is taking place at ECO Plastics and Jonathan Short poses the very simple eternal ques- tion: ”What stops us improving?“ Conclusions PET Network day closes with a platform discussion. “How can we enhance further PET sustainabil- ity?“ Sitting on the panel are the PET recycling protagonists – both speak- ers and people from the Auditorium – the exchange between them varies according to temperament – as col- leagues, decisive, with commitment, politely entertaining. Everything hinges on the language used – grammar-wise, in the subjunc- tive form “we could/should/would”: The golden rules to activate col- lection – why, where and consistent – with ongoing feedback and testimo- nial. - Ease and motivation of collec- tion. - Harmonising the methods of collection in all member countries. – European legislation – realistic and immediate. One delegate asks why an increase in collecting should not be permitted to go hand in hand with higher costs – in view of the sig- nificance of the topic where industry and society are concerned. Answer: Prices always have a part to play. Yet, at the very least, prices should be uniform and comparable in relation to the market. The battle against lit- tering can help to boost the volumes collected. Answer: Littering is not an industry issue, rather a social issue for governments and municipalities. But it may help. And finally: PET is endowed with the negative image of plastic. This negative image needs to be swept away. PET Network day is coming to an end with communication on what is currently the most important topic, PET, has taken place. Things have been set in motion. But there are a number of questions outstanding and still awaiting answers, including the very simple and eternal question: “What stops us improving?“