Page 55 - Plastics News December 2020

Keurig Canada introduces coffee makers made DSM and Neste partner to create high-
with PCR plastic content performance materials

M aterial supplier Royal DSM has formed a strategic
partnership with sustainable technology company
Neste to enable the production of high-performance
polymers. The collaboration aims to replace several
thousand tons of fossil feedstock in the production of
polymers with bio-based and waste plastic-based
N on-alcoholic beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper hydrocarbons. In the new strategic collaboration, DSM
Engineering Materials will start replacing a significant
Canada has introduced new coffee makers
produced using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. portion of the fossil feedstock used to date in the
Named Keurig K-Mini and K-Mini Plus, the new matte manufacture of its high-performance polymers portfolio
black coffee makers feature a minimum of 20% and with feedstock produced from recycled waste plastics
30%, respectively. The new launch enhances the and/or 100 per cent bio-based hydrocarbons. These
company's sustainability commitment and improves its polymers are used, for example, in the automotive,
electronics and packaging industries. Over the short
environmental impact. It is also in line with the term, DSM said in a statement, the collaboration aims to
company's sustainability goal to use 30% PCR content replace several thousand tons of fossil feedstock in the
across its packaging portfolio by 2025. Keurig Dr Pepper production of polymers with alternative, sustainable
Canada president Stéphane Glorieux said: “The launch feedstock: bio-based and waste plastic-based
of these brewers represents a significant step forward hydrocarbons. Neste produces its bio-based
in our sustainability journey as a company and our hydrocarbons entirely from renewable raw materials,
broader efforts to build a more circular economy in such as waste and residue oils and fats. For the
Canada. “With Lavergne's valued guidance and production of waste plastic derived feedstock, Neste
expertise, we have been able to reduce our use of focuses on plastics that cannot be mechanically recycled
and have previously been directed to incineration and
virgin plastic, our energy consumption and our
landfilling. “Thanks to being a drop-in replacement to
greenhouse gas emissions, while helping to give a
commonly-used fossil feedstock in the polymers
useful second life to valuable materials that would
production, Neste's products are suitable for existing
otherwise end up in landfill.” Keurig Dr Pepper Canada
production infrastructures and enables DSM to produce
is working on increasing PCR content in its coffee
more sustainable products with consistently high quality
makers, including pursuing the inclusion of PCR in both using its existing processes,” DSM officials said in the
Canada and the US. As part of this initiative, the statement. All of the chemically recycled and bio-based
company partnered with Montreal-based second life materials within the value chain will have the globally
plastic transformation firm Lavergne. Lavergne recognized ISCC Plus certification and will not require re-
develops and supply sustainably engineered resins for qualification. “The new strategic cooperation underlines
use in the new coffee makers. Lavergne president and a strong commitment from both partners to contribute to
founder Jean-Luc Lavergne said: “We are pleased to a circular economy by collaborating throughout the value
collaborate closely with Keurig Dr Pepper Canada in our chain, and addressing the increasing consumer, societal
shared mission to make plastic manufacturing a more and regulatory demand for more sustainable circular
circular process. “Importantly, we are already solutions,” DSM said. For Neste, this is the second
partnership with a materials supplier this year: in May,
partnering with Keurig Dr Pepper Canada on the next the company signed a partnership deal with material
phase, creating a complete closed-loop process that
supplier Covestro to promote the use of sustainable raw
integrates recycled plastic from reclaimed Keurig materials in plastics production in Europe.
coffee makers and turning them into new products.”

DECEMBER 2020 55 Plastics News