Page 84 - Plastics News August 2024

PRODUCT NEWS

This test showed that the IV for the sheet ex- size. Hence, in the coming month, the organiza-
truded using the 90% material was lower than tion will study other components such as the
the control sample, which was to be expected. cost of installing or operating the additional ma-
The color values were similar for both samples, chinery or the effects on certain bottle grades
except for the b* values (i.e. color tend to be or fiber end markets or processes designed to
more yellow). However, a difference lower than produce material for them.
1.0 is usually invisible to the human eye. Finally,
the main difference was seen in the haze values. However, the results show that there is room to
While this difference is visible to the human eye, grow with respect to the mechanical recycling of
the reclaimer reported that the sheet contain- thermoforms, from packaging design all the way
ing thermoforms could be sold in some markets, through end markets.
with approval from the end customers.
Through its work, the CPT’s goal is to spark
Guiding the development of new infrastructure some new conversations and a cross-border
dialogue on the future of PET recycling, notably
To summarize, three main conclusions emerge through an upcoming webinar in Spring 2024. In
from this study: the coming year, the CPT will also continue to
explore ways to deepen the knowledge on ther-
Equipment is available to sort and process high moform recycling by building partnerships with
concentrations of thermoforms when present in established industry players, such as The Recy-
the PET stream. cling Partnership and the Association of Plastics
Recyclers, and by leading research projects and
Modifications can be made to a wash line to bet-
ter process thermoforms. pilots across North America. Among others, the
organization plans to look into how increasing

PCR sheet can be made and formed into ther- thermoforms concentrations can affect bottle
moforms of acceptable quality for specific mar- and fiber production, as well as to assess the
kets using thermoform-only bales. cost implications.

SOURCE – PLASTICS RECYCLING UPDATE
The CPT is aware that those conclusions have
their limitations, notably due to the small sample

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86 PLASTICS NEWS August 2024