Page 52 - Plastics News February 2020

produCt news

PolyOne develops new silicone Henniez water bottles to use 75

alternative TPE for medical tubing per cent rPET

olyOne has launched its newest medical-grade, he entire plastics bottle range of Henniez mineral
PVersaflex™ HC BT218, formulated in response to Twater now contains 75 per cent rPET. The Swiss
supply challenges stemming from silicone shortages and brand, which has been using 30 per cent rPET since
sterilization facility closures. The launch is expected 2013, now wants to close the PET circular loop by
to happen at the Medical Design and Manufacturing moving to 100 per cent rPET.“With 75 per cent recycled
(MD&M) West, scheduled between 11 February 2020 and plastics in all our Henniez plastics bottles, we are
13 February 2020 in clearly committed to this highly efficient circular
Anaheim, Southern economy,” said Alessandro Rigoni, general manager of
California. Expressing Nestlé Waters Switzerland. “We are proud of our local
his excitement on recycling system PET Recycling Schweiz (PRS), one of
adding the new the best in the world.”PRS has been in place for 30
Versaflex grade to the years in Switzerland and boasts a PET recycling rate of
company’s expanding 82 per cent, without using a bottle deposit scheme. The
set of solutions,
Jim Mattey, global news comes weeks after Nestlé committed to invest up
marketing director, to CHF2 billion ($2.1bn) in the transition from virgin
Specialty Engineered plastics to food-grade recycled plastics and committed
Materials at PolyOne to the development of innovative sustainable packaging
says, “Our solutions enable our customers to continue solutions. Henniez is an iconic Swiss brand, which
pursuing product innovation and meet market demands.” celebrates its 115th anniversary this year. It was the
We are committed to leveraging our material science first brand in Switzerland to launch mineral water in
expertise to formulate alternative and customized plastic bottles back in 1984. Unbreakable, light and yet
solutions that meet regulatory demands and functional resealable, the plastic bottle quickly revolutionized
necessity for life-saving medical devices, especially in the local beverage trade. Last year, several mineral
the face of market uncertainties, further remarks Jim. water brands owned by Nestlé announced similar
Versaflex HC BT218 adds to PolyOne’s broader portfolio moves. Belgian brand Valvert switched its plastics
of specialty engineered polymers for healthcare that
meet stringent regulatory demands and are suitable
for alternative sterilization methods, including gamma
and autoclave.The new grade offers weldability, kink
resistance, and tensile strength performance comparable
to leading medical tubing materials, including silicone
and TPEs. Commercially available in the United States,
it has been submitted for USP VI and ISO 10993-4,5
certifications.It is important to note that throughout 2019,
the food and drug administration (FDA) issued several
alerts regarding shortages of medical tubing and potential
medical device due to reduced supplies of siloxane (a bottle portfolio to 100 per cent rPET, Vittel developed
key ingredient in silicone) and the closure of multiple a bottle made entirely of recycled PET and British
ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization facilities. The above- Buxton announced 100 per cent rPET for its complete
mentioned constraints promotes higher prices, longer
lead times, and increased interest in silicone alternatives range by the end of 2021. Henniez has become one of
such as thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) tubing solutions. the favorite mineral waters of the Swiss. In 1928 the
In response, PolyOne has formulated the Versaflex™ HC brand became the first mineral water available all over
BT218 TPE for biopharmaceutical tubing applications. Switzerland. Henniez is available via many bottles sizes
to be consumed in restaurants, on the move or at home.

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