PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2019

MATERIALS / RECYCLING PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 09/19 www.petpla.net 42 Time to increase the rPET content The chemical industry must play a key and decisive role in the plastics recycling revolution, states Sukano. With the expertise it has at its disposal, the Swiss company says it can support efforts to deliver innovative and collaborative products and services for the concept of circular economy. Sukano is launching a global cam- paign to lead the #wearepart- ofthesolution platform to deliver improved social standards demanded by consumers and society, by proven scientific performance and technology. Recovering original PET properties After collection, post-consumer PET is purchased by reclaimers who wash, grind and further process PET containers to produce a recycled resin ready for reuse in a variety of end products. For a long time, the reuse of PET was limited to applications like fibres, because the process of recycling shortens polymer chains and makes processing more difficult for production of high-quality packaging or bottles. Sukano Melt Enhancer Master- batches are designed to enable upcycling instead of just recycling. The solution ensures uniform cell structure, improving mechanical performance and processing stability enabling recycled PET use in bottles or trays packaging. As different end applications require different product performances – and processing tech- nology is not uniform – company spe- cialists are available to help develop the most accurate and appropriate reactive chemistry for customers’ needs. Increasing rPET content As demand for rPET grows, bale quality is decreasing. The lack of bale standardisation also does not help and brand owners have set up their own individual corporate goals for recycling content, providing conver- tors and the plastics value chain with an additional challenge. Sukano’s masterbatches, such as Anti-Yellowing Masterbatches, neu- tralise the visual effects of heat history and impurities from contaminated, low quality bales and recycled PET, improving optical clarity and appear- ance. Impact Modifier Masterbatches enable producers to include a higher dosage of rPET in the core layer of the end application, while maintain- ing or improving cost base and film performance. MATERIALS The circular economy operates system-wide to redefine products and services, to design out waste and pollu- tion, keep products and materials in use longer, and regenerate natural systems. Plastics recycling and energy recovery account for over 70% of post-consumer plastic treatment in the EU; since 2006, the EU as a whole has managed to reduce landfilling by more than half, while nearly doubling recy- cling. As far as PET is concerned, there is a growing trend in the col- lection of PET materials for specific recycling activities. Sukano states that nonetheless, more work must be done. Besides separate col- lection and proper sort- ing various, design for recycling is a must for the company.