EVENT REVIEW PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 11/21 www.petpla.net 40 The PET recycle initiative Run, drink, recycle PET bottles have been confronted with the concept of danger attributed to nature as a whole. However, it is difficult to conceive of a long journey through nature without one of these bottles to hydrate and lighten the way. The Spanish company Novapet wants to demonstrate that PET and environment can be the best allies. Novapet finds in each PET bottle or container consumed a powerful resource that, through its correct management and treatment, allows to enjoy the benefits that PET offers in immediate environment, closing the bottle-to-bottle recycling cycle. The XII edition of the Ultra Trail Guara Somontano took place last October 25-26 in the Spanish town of Alquezar. A long-awaited edition after the lockdown caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic for all runners. Novapet, which has been collaborating with the race since 2019, recovering PET containers consumed, once again contributed its grain of sand in terms of sustainability for the event. “We prepared an exceptional team of volunteers distributed among the most relevant provisioning, refreshment and control points throughout the whole weekend, with the main objective of recovery all the PET containers that were used in the refreshment control stations during the race: mineral water, soft drink and isotonic drink bottles and, additionally in this edition, PET bowls and spoons for solid provisioning, which were delivered both in the race and at the finish line”, explained the management team. They continued: “We really push this circular economy initiative #ReciclaelPET that this fantastic material allows in such an event like this, in which, in a short period of time, PET consume is highly increased and we, as a PET producer based at the Somontano area, where the race takes place, want to take care of our closest environment with actions like this.” All PET containers from the 2021 edition will be used for the rPET containers for the next edition of the race. Recycling, necessary but not sufficient Novapet’s experience with this polymer in the different stages of the production process has led them to study the possibilities that the recycling of the material can offer. The first mechanical recycling line is expected to start up in the last quarter of 2022 at the Barbastro, Huesca, facility, with a processing capacity of up to 15,000t/a of food-grade rPET. The investments made in favour of the bottle-to-bottle production model will allow the company to close the PET circle by being able to manufacture food grade recycled PET resin with the waste from bottles already consumed, thus avoiding the waste of this resource with infinite lives such as PET. From Novapet urge the legislator to study in depth the possibilities that chemical recycling can offer, complementary to mechanical recycling, possibly allowing meeting the objectives of 100% recycled bottles in a sustainable way in the medium term. www.novapet.com The right tools and expertise to help with your rPET goals! Agr is uniquely positioned to support your venture into rPET bottle manufacturing with a powerful combination of Process Control tools, Process Consultants, and decades of industry experience. AGRINTL.COM • +1.724.482.2163
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