PETpla.net Insider 06 / 2015

MATERIAL / RECYCLING 22 PET planet insider Vol. 16 No. 06/15 www.petpla.net PET bottle-to-bottle recycling in the Andes Starlinger recycling technol- ogy installed a recoSTAR PET 330 iV+ recycling lines, operating at 1,300m above sea level. An established producer of fibers, fila- ments, yarns and resins for the textile industry based in Medellín, Enka de Colombia S. A. recognised the great potential of bottle-to-bottle recycling and decided to move into this application. rPET for up to 100% recycled content “After we started to recycle post-consumer PET bottles for fiber production in 2009 we saw PET recycling both as a new challenge and an opportunity for a new line of business that aligns perfectly with our sustainability strategy”, said Aníbal Celis Carvajal, Group Coordinator for Integral Management and Processes at Enka. “With PET consumption in Latin America steadily growing and PET recycling gaining a foothold, we began to study the various recycling technologies in different continents of the world, especially in the area of bottle-to-bottle recycling.” Having looked at the various technologies available on the market, Enka opted for the Starlinger super- clean process and purchased a recoSTAR PET 330 iV+ PET recycling line in 2013. “Approvals of FDA and EFSA as well as of major brand-own- ers, decontamination efficiency, vis- cosity increase, compliance with prod- uct specifications and pellet shape were the criteria we were looking for in the equipment”, Celis explained. “But also global recognition, the qual- ity of equipment, machine footprint, technical support and the price played a significant role.” The PET recycling plant took up production in December 2013. Enka’s experiences with the produced rPET on the Colombian market are prom- ising: Evaluations of the recycled PET resin made by Enka customers showed very satisfying results – both as raw material and in bottles pro- duced with different mixing ratios. “Tests were carried out with bottles that have been produced with a recy- cled content ranging from 25% to up to 100%. All of them received very good acceptance from our custom- ers”, said Aníbal Celis. In December 2013 Enka obtained the approval of the Colombian health authority INVIMA (National Institute of Surveil- lance of Drugs and Food) for four years. Enka de Colombia S.A. based in Medellin