MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 24 No. 10/23 www.petpla.net 11 usage rate. Bottle samples are taken for further analysis, and the remaining bottles are ground and re-extruded into rPET pellets. The loop continues by blowing new bottles manufactured from the produced rPET pellets. A second sample is taken after the fifth production cycle of PET bottles. Both samples undergo GC-MS and LC-MS analysis to identify any substances present and compare them with those of the virgin resin. This procedure identifies and quantifies any NIAS created using the additive and highlights any potential accumulation of substances in the recycled material during multiple reprocessing cycles. These capabilities also allow any critical molecules to be identified and, when possible, eliminated at the early stages of the product development process for new additives. This capability has been used in the development of Avient’s new technologies, all formulated with circularity in mind and ensuring that NIAS controls are in place from the onset of these materials moving into the market. An example of this NIAS characterisation is in the bottled water market, where older technologies, still used today to control acetaldehyde reduction, have highlighted the need for a new technical solution. This, in turn, has led to the development of Avient’s next generation of acetaldehyde scavengers, Colormatrix AAnchor. Production of comprehensive characterisation data such as this also enables targeted screening of key NIAS where the customer may require product monitoring. Lastly, providing preliminary NIAS data to plastic processors and brand owners helps them narrow the analyses needed to identify the cause of any NIAS profiles of concern in their finished products, thereby maintaining the highest safety standards along the value chain. The path forward The demand for recycled PET in food contact applications is growing steadily. While the Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive is calling for the incorporation of 25% recycled content in all PET beverage bottles by 2025, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) is aiming for a further increase to 30% and the expansion to all food contact packaging made of PET by 2030. As rPET use increases, NIAS levels are also very likely to increase. Sustainable additives must add no further negatives or reduce the undesirable NIAS risk. Therefore, additive manufacturers will need to adapt their processes as well. The development of new products should also include a screening for NIAS. This will ensure that critical substances are eliminated before a product is launched to avoid any accumulation of unwanted substances in the rPET stream over time. Today’s recycling protocols need to cover this aspect fully. Avient has invested in the necessary analytical equipment and built the required capabilities to screen and assess NIAS that might be created while using additives and further recycling loops. These analytical capabilities can also be used to conduct a targeted NIAS analysis to identify specific substances. This is required when customers request targeted monitoring of the additives they buy regularly from Avient. The company’s ongoing effort to identify and mitigate potential risks in food contact materials demonstrates its commitment to consumer well-being. The journey toward safer and more sustainable plastic packaging is a collective effort. As technology advances and consumer awareness grows, collaborations between industry leaders, regulators, and consumers will shape the path toward packaging that safeguards both products and the planet. www.avient.com
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