PETpla.net Insider 05 / 2017

MATERIALS / RECYCLING PET planet Insider Vol. 18 No. 05/17 www.petpla.net 10 PET, rPET, bio-PET and more Multiple choice Since the invention of PET in 1941, the material revolutionised the drinks market with approximately every third beverage packaging today filled in PET. From the start, research has constantly focused on improving the materials’ properties, and an entire industry has since been developed also around the recycling of the post-consumer bottles. But besides making bottles of virgin or bottle-grade rPET, bio-PET is also a growing segment. On the following pages, we highlight some recent developments in the resin and processing sector. The worldwide market for virgin PET is expected to grow +/-5% this year (PCI Wood Mackenzie). The highest proportion of the consumption is in bottle-grade resins for water and CSD, with a rising number of oxygen sensitive beverages. Improving the shelf life of the products is a constant struggle for the industry. As consumer habits change, so material develop- ment must keep pace. Additives and special solutions for PET packaging help meet the needs of the market. For example, bottles in which juices and smoothies are filled, require a reli- able UV protection to ensure the shelf life of the contents. This is not only true for beverages packaged in PET but also for the Health and Beauty Care market where consumers shun products whose contents are loaded with UV stabilisers to products where the protection is guaranteed by the improved package itself. In addition to UV shielding addi- tives, these include anti-yellow solutions, IV enhancer for rPET or additives for easier processing of the material. Even the unintended off-taste of water bottled in PET can be eliminated by the right choice of additives. Bioplastics currently still represent a small share of the global plastics packaging market, of which bio-PET bottles are part. According to a new report from Smithers Pira, global demand for bioplastics for the packag- ing industry is forecast to grow from 2017–2022 at an annual average rate of 17% amounting to a market value of almost $7.2 billion. Most successful will be those who identify opportunities where a premium can be expected for a naturally sourced product. This will help in counteracting the uncompetitive cost of biopolymers compared to petro-polymers, a factor brought about by falls in world crude oil prices since mid-2014. Further- more, in packaging applications where it is technically possible for bioplastics to replace oil-based polymers, sup- pliers will also have to manage the problems of higher production costs, capital availability, and limited avail- ability of bio-based feedstock over the coming years. However, it is expected that future biopolymers will offer improved rates of bio-renewability and bio-degradability, as this rate is an important factor in achieving market acceptance. In 2017, non-food is the largest area of application for bioplas- tic packaging, accounting for almost 46% of global consumption. Food is the second largest end-use sector, followed by beverage bottles. Bioplas- tic beverage bottle consumption has grown dramatically since 2012, fol- lowing the introduction of bio-derived PET for soft drinks bottles, and will account, according to the report, for almost 22% of bioplastics for packag- ing consumption in 2017. Different PET from numerous sources are available today, each requiring different processing or prep- aration conditions to be adequately and efficiently transformed into the perfect preform/bottle. www.smitherspira.com www.woodmac.com MATERIALS Special Photo: Starlinger