MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 25 No. 01+02/24 www.petpla.net 13 MATERIALS / RECYCLING 13 full recycle loops. Avient has developed the “Heat Stability Protocol,” which involves screening new additive solutions for PET packaging for impact on colour and NIAS through two full recycle loops at 100% recycled content. With the use of high-tech analytical equipment for minimal impact on colour shift, so there are no adverse effects on impurities or product safety. In the case of AA scavengers, replacing ATA was essential to avoid processing and regulatory issues caused by recycling and product accumulation. A new molecule had to be designed to provide effective acetaldehyde reduction and full circularity. After stringent performance validation testing, extensive recycle and NIAS testing using the heat stability protocol, and multiple beta customer tests, Avient is offering a new patented AA scavenging technology called ColorMatrix AAnchor. It is designed with recycling in mind and is claimed to have much lower levels of sublimation than ATA-containing products. Furthermore, it does not cause deposition on moulds or equipment, and the potential for migration of this molecule is much lower than ATA, reducing the risk of exceeding regulatory migration thresholds, even in closed-loop recycling systems. Being ATA-free, ColorMatrix AAnchor does not cause the formation of PAAs. It is a liquid dispersion that can be added to an injection moulding or extrusion process using standard ColorMatrix liquid dosing systems. Implementing sustainable solutions for plastic packaging As the European Union sets new, mandatory targets to increase the amount of recycled content in plastic packaging and ensure its recyclability, new measures to safeguard the quality of rPET will also be required, especially for its use in food contact packaging applications where, besides being easy to process and having good mechanical properties, it’s important to avoid the creation of unwanted substances during repetitive processing. Further optimisation of the process and packaging composition will help the industry to overcome these challenges. It’s also necessary to develop existing solutions further to ensure the suitability of packaging for specific applications. The primary focus of new developments should be on eliminating gaps that limit the circularity of packaging. These criteria have become mandatory for packaging design in recent years. Understanding these gaps also requires a robust development process for new solutions. This process should involve simulating the recycling process multiple times to identify any potential accumulation of unwanted substances. Ultimately, this will help eliminate critical substances before a product launches and becomes part of the rPET stream. www.avient.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY0MjI=