DePoly and PTI work together to produce a closed-loop recycled PET container
DePoly, a Swiss award-winning cleantech company which specialises in advanced recycling of PET/polyester plastics, today announced its collaboration with Plastic Technologies Inc (PTI) a leader in sustainable plastic packaging design and development, to create a closed loop recycled PET bottle.
Using a mixed stream of feedstock, ranging from PET plastic packaging, polyester fibres and industrial waste, DePoly’s technology breaks down the PET and polyester back to its raw monomers, purified terephthalic acid (PTA).
From this virgin-grade quality PTA, PET pellets were produced, which were blown into recycled PET bottles using PTI’s 40 years of expertise and technology.
DePoly, who set out to challenge itself by using PET and polyester plastic waste from packaging and insulation, used its technology to produce a high-quality PTA used to produce recycled PET that was processed into bottles by injection stretch blow moulding.
Both companies worked together to demonstrate a closed loop solution for plastic recycling into high grade bottles. Blowing a PET bottle is generally one of the more challenging end products to produce, highlighting the experience of PTI and maturity of DePoly’s technology, capable of bringing a universal approach to PET & polyester recycling.
The conclusion of a preliminary screening analysis of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in DePoly rPET material is showing that the tested sample complies with the overall and specific migration requirements for the PET typical substances in contact with all types of food at any long-term storage at room temperature and below, including hot fill.
“For this project we really wanted to challenge ourselves, taking a mixture of different PET and polyester containing waste streams that are blended and have different additives. Being able to hold this bottle in my hands, is a testament to DePoly’s and PTI’s ingenuity and expertise!” said Dr Gaetano Dedual, senior business development manager of DePoly.
“We did not really know what to expect from this first processing and prototyping trials with DePoly’s chemically recycled material. For a premiere, the outcome is promising. With PTI’s technical expertise, the prototyping went well and the quality and performance of the produced samples are similar to a control made from a virgin PET resin!”– Stéphane Morier, director project management of PTI.
