There are some important sidenotes:<\/span><\/h3>\nBecause the fact is that Recycling does not stand for completely circular. Flexible (food) plastics cannot be re-used again in new food packaging after it has been recycled. This regarding the food safety. However, recycled plastics also have their limitations. Furthermore, packaging that have coloring on them, or have been printed on can only be recycled as \u2018variegated\u2019 granulates. The application possibilities of those granulates are much more limited, this is also called; downcycling. It is a challenge to downcycle as little as possible. This can only be achieved when the waste flows are as pure, clean and separated as possible. The start of closed loops can contribute to this.<\/p>\n
The challenges and possibilities differentiate in every region. The waste collection structure and the available recycling technology can be different in each country, and even in each region. Packaging waste that corporations make (often secondary waste\/nonfood waste), like retail or production companies are often less contaminated and better separated. \u00a0The recycling percentage for corporations are often one-third of the total plastic packaging waste, and is significantly better than what the statistics show. Because everything is so much bigger the challenges are smaller and the possibilities bigger. With packaging that are often collected as waste on the residual pile, it is more complex to determine which changes will be effective. Besides calling in a packaging expert, it can also help to call in household waste company\u2019s like Attero or GP Groot, or even scientists like the scientists of Wageningen University & Research with their extensive knowledge of waste and materials.<\/p>\n
There are continuate technological advancements (like de-inking, de-smelling etc) and the sales market is constantly moving. The possibilities for recycling are therefor in a constant development. As a result certain insights of this report can soon be out of date.<\/p>\n
Design for recycling must not be an objective per se. If you change the packaging of a product from laminate to PE, but you have to give in on protection of the product, than you must do a research if in the end you improved your environmental footprint or not.<\/p>\n
Design for recycling is not the same as using recycled plastics in your new plastics. When more and more packaging materials can be recycled, but the market for recycled products falls behind, than still a fraction of the amount that can be recycled, will be recycled. With food packaging the implication of recycled products can be difficult, however there are numerous applications in which recycled materials can be used. On one hand this takes the attention of processors, but on the other hand it also have to take a lot of economical stimulus. As long as the costs of primary raw material competes with secondary raw material, the market of secondary raw material will always stay behind.<\/p>\n
Replacing laminates by recycable foils<\/span><\/h3>\nFor a large number of packaging application we see that laminates can easily be replaced by non-laminated PE, which is easily recyclable. An example of this is packaging for products that go in the freezer, for instance vegetables, fruits and chips. Our special (FFS foil) PE-foil with extra firmness can create for the desired firmness of the packaging, without taking any concessions to the protection or shelf life of the product. At this stage we even can deliver a foil in a variant that can cause no problems and modifications to original heat seal systems.<\/p>\n
Curious about the possibilities of making your foil recyclable? <\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\nPlease contact one of our experienced employees using the contact form below. You will get a response as soon as possible<\/p>\n