PETpla.net Insider 04 / 2020

8 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 21 No. 04/20 www.petpla.net Sukano NIR detectable black masterbatch included on French positive list by Citeo and Cotrep Sukano, a global masterbatch specialist for PET, PLA and specialty resins, has been certified according to the Ccotrep recyclability test protocol and will be featured in the Citeo positive list. This gives brand owners a documented ‘end of life’ alternative as it ensures the sorting and recycling of black PET products while supporting their recycling goals. Collection and sorting are two critical drivers that prevent PET trays, tubes and pots from being sent for recycling. While collection improvements should be addressed at the municipal level, industry can support the common goal of a circular economy by improving sorting and recycling, states Sukano. To recycle plastic packaging, plastic waste is pre- sorted at recycling facilities. In most recycling facilities, this is done by automated sorting technologies using near-infrared (NIR) optical sorters. One key limitation to near-infrared opti- cal sorting is its inability to identify and separate plastics that contain carbon black, the most commonly used black pigment. This is because carbon black absorbs a significant amount of ultraviolet and infrared spectrum light, preventing the reflec- tion of infrared light back to the sensor – and consequently blocking the recognition by an NIR scan. As a result, black PET end applications are not massively recycled today. Sukano’s newly formulated Sukano NIR-Black detectable and certified masterbatch has been tested by the authorised sorting equipment manufacturing companies according to the Cotrep protocol. Cotrep is an operational technical committee created by Citeo, Elipso, and Valorplast. It assists manufactur- ers in the development of recyclable plastic packaging solu- tions in France. Once packaging has been positively tested according to the Cotrep protocol, the product is listed in the Citeo positive list, which will soon be launched. Citeo works to reduce the environmental impact of household packaging and paper by transforming them into new resources. Among the advantages of products being tested by Cotrep and listed by Citeo is an exemption from the malus fee in France. www.sukano.com Indorama Ventures team to grow the PET recycling business Indorama Ventures Public Com- pany Limited (IVL), a global chemical producer, announced its full year and fourth quarter 2019 financial results. The company undertook several transformative initiatives that were announced on 4 th Feb 2020 at its Capital Market Day and are expected to generate benefits starting in 2020 and targeted to lead to $350 million in run rate cost savings by 2023. These initiatives and the strategic acquisition of the Huntsman Integrated Ethylene and Propylene Oxide (EO & PO) assets (code-named Spindletop); footprint expansion into a growing market in India; formation of a dedicated team to grow the PET recycling business; con- tinued focus on working capital optimisation coupled with an increased emphasis on leadership development are the key strategic priorities for the group. Mr Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures said, “IVL now has three strong growth engines to generate con- tinued returns for its stakeholders. The first is the Combined PET Segment, which includes its key feedstocks and recy- cling business; the Integrated Oxides and Derivatives Seg- ment, which includes the recent acquisition of the Spindletop assets; the completed IVOL gas cracker in Louisiana; and lastly the Fibers segment, which serves Mobility, Hygiene and Lifestyle verticals. Our global reach, with around 80% of capital invested in Europe and Americas, makes our business model resilient to events happening in any particular country or region. On the other hand, our end-product strategy of serving the packag- ing, hygiene and safety needs of society, leads to our growth in excess of GDP growth. Going forward, we will reinforce our strengths via 5 strategic priorities: cost transformation, asset full potential, adjacency growth, recycling leadership and lead- ership development.” www.indoramaventures.com Sidel honoured for packaging concept AYA at World Food Innovation Awards For their latest eco-friendly packag- ing design concept AYA, Sidel has been awarded with the prestigious World Food Innovation Award (WFIA) in the category “Best Drink Packaging Design”. With the prizewinning AYA design, Sidel has developed a comprehensive “end to end” packaging alternative for still water, cov- ering all angles from 100% rPET primary to carton secondary and on to tertiary packaging alternatives. The result is an overall cost-effective and sustainable packaging concept which is tailor-fit to match circular economy requirements, while improving environmental impact and industrial production efficiency. For six years now, the World Food Innovation Awards have been recognis- ing and celebrating concept excellence and innovation across every category of the global food industry. Chosen by a judging panel of 14 seasoned industry experts, the awards honour some of the most ambitious new products and devel- opments of the year from established brands as well as start-ups. The awarding ceremony in association with FoodBev Media took place at HRC (London ExCel, UK) on March 5, 2020 www.sidel.com Mr Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures