PETpla.net Insider 11 / 2016

MATERIAL / RECYCLING 16 PET planet Insider Vol. 17 No. 11/16 www.petpla.net Pens to be made from bottle caps in a joint recycling project between Stabilo, Coca-Cola and Interseroh Reborn as a marker pen The writing instruments manufacturer Stabilo has begun a joint plastic recycling project with soft-drink manufacturer Coca-Cola and the recycling service provider Interseroh, which could be a marker for the future. In the project, Sta- bilo will, for the first time ever, manufacture highlighters from Coca-Cola bottle caps. Stabilo will market the highlighters made from 83% recycled plastic Procyclen under the brand name Stabilo Green Boss. The recycled plastic Procyclen was developed by Interseroh Dienstleistungs GmbH, a sister company of the international recycling specialists and raw material provider Alba Group. Coca-Cola bottle caps are par- ticularly well suited as the starting material for the production of high- lighters as their plastic meets the special Stabilo health and safety requirements due to its original approval for foodstuffs. During prepa- ration of its PET reusable bottles for refilling, Coca-Cola is collecting bottle caps throughout Germany as a separate recyclable material and can thus provide them unmixed for the production of highlighters. “For this reason it quickly became clear to us that we had found a source of plastic here that is perfectly suited for us”, explained Peter Satzinger, Global Engineering Manager, Stabilo Inter- national GmbH. Interseroh manufactures the mul- tiple award-winning recycled plastic Procyclen from Coca-Cola bottle caps through a specifically developed recycled resource process. “What’s special about Procyclen is that through its individual composition this recycling plastic meets all the expec- tations of a high-quality product and is absolutely equal to new products made from crude oil. An added bonus is that it has a significantly better bal- ance of conservation of raw materials, energy and climate,” stated Dr Manica Ulcnik-Krump, Head of Recycled Resource Research and Develop- ment at Interseroh. Scientists from the Fraunhofer-Institute have estimated that greenhouse emissions resulting from production can be reduced by up to 50% if Procyclen is used instead of virgin materials. Interseroh is one of the brands under the Alba Group umbrella. The Alba Group is active with both of their brands Alba and Interseroh in Germany and Europe, as well as Asia with around 7,500 employees in total. “With respect to innovative pack- aging solutions, we are continuously working on making our bottles lighter, and we are capitalising on the use of recycled materials and plant-based raw materials and, of course, on the multiple use of materials through reuse and recycling. We are more than excited that together with our partners we have found a way of high- quality processing for our bottle caps,” explained Sanam Moayedi-Stummer, Procurement Director, Coca-Cola European Partners Deutschland GmbH. The refillable highlighters will be sold in four colours as part of Stabilo’s “Green Range”. It is the first product made from the collaboration between Stabilo, Coca-Cola and Interseroh. Further products are expected to follow. www.albagroup.de www.coca-colacompany.com www.recyclingnews.info In a joint recycling project, Coca-Cola bottle caps are turned into highlighters (photo: Coca-Cola) Highlighters made from bottle caps (photo: Alba Group)