Page 39 - Plastics News December 2020

Dow Launches its First Recycled Resin for Shrink Film Applications

Dow's new PCR-rich resin delivers up to 40% recycled innovations targeted for early next year,” Zapata said.
content in shrink film. “We're exploring several platforms and applications that
could fit our expertise to meet the PCR content for those
Dow is expanding its circular technology portfolio by
introducing its first post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin applications—similar to what we are doing with shrink
for collation shrink film in North America. The recycled
plastic resin, which is designed specifically for retail and
logistic shrink film applications, offers customers and
brands the ability to create shrink film with up to 40%
PCR content. In June 2020, Dow announced new
sustainability targets focused on eliminating plastic
waste by increasing global recycling and designing
products for recyclability.
Earlier this year, Dow announced a partnership with
Houston-based waste-optimization specialist Avangard
Innovative on producing Dow's first post-consumer resin
PCR-based products in North America. Since securing
this reliable, quality supply of PCR, Dow has been
evaluating new linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)
and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) products using film.”
PCR.
Recently Dow had also announced the commercial
“This is the first launch from that announcement,” said availability of a wide range of tenter frame, biaxially-
Victor Zapata, Dow's recycling commercial director for oriented polyethylene (TF-BOPE) for linear low, medium
North America and Latin America. “There is a high and high density packaging films. This offering has been
demand for post-consumer content by brand owners and developed through a joint value chain effort, combining
the end markets.” The recycled material in Dow's
Dow's INNATETM TF80 technology with the production
XUS60030.01 Experimental Low Density Polyethylene know-how and experience of Plastchim-T and
Resin includes 70% certified film-based PCR. Zapata said Ticinoplast, leading producers in PE and BOPP, and the
that through the film structure on the design, this will processing knowledge of machine manufacturer
translate up to 40% recycled content, which gives Brückner Maschinenbau. These solutions enable
flexibility to customize PCR content for shrink
customers to use printable, tough, stiff and visually
applications. appealing BOPE films to produce resource-efficient,
Dow says that the final package performance is mono-material packaging that is designed for
comparable to packages made with 100% virgin resins. recyclability. Dow's TF-BOPE-based solutions for
This package also maintains recyclability as an all-PE oriented films are appreciated for their remarkable
film. And by working with Avangard, there will be an appearance, and puncture and impact resistance.
adequate supply to meet market demand. Dow is Applications range from downgauged frozen food films,
developing additional PCR innovations for various to triplex laminates without BOPA, and duplex PE-based
applications in industrial and consumer packaging laminates used for home and personal care pre-made
markets in the coming year. “There will be other pouches.

DECEMBER 2020 39 Plastics News