Page 42 - Plastics News July 2018

FeAtures

But while the Method package was a proof of concept that by set environmental, safety, social and human-rights
the material from the beach could be repurposed into a standards. Envision goes on-site to make sure they know
package, there’s a host of obstacles that come with it. how to properly sort the plastic and load it into containers.
The Method process was limited by collection, processing Haiti is one of the countries Envision is working with and
and degradation issues from the plastic that was gathered there are about 9000 registered collectors who are paid
on the beach itself. In addition, because of the different to gather the HDPE material. This showcases that the
types of plastic mixed together, ocean plastic is a gray ocean-bound plastic initiative benefits more than just the
resin, which can be limiting in the packaging market that ocean, Lewis says. Envision also has a third-party auditor
often seeks colors. It seemed like this might be a one-off that goes in every country to verify that the collectors
project for Envision.
are complying with its standards.
But then Envision considered a study by the University of
Georgia that researched how much mismanaged plastic The Process
waste is making its way from land to the ocean. The study Envision tracks the material all the way through and
found between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tons (10.6 to immediately inspects the bale when it is received, with no
28 billion lb) of plastic entered the ocean in 2010 from compromise on bale specifications that Envision requires
people living within about 31 miles of the coastline. for PCR material gathered from the U.S. Envision keeps
the ocean-bound plastic separate from its domestic PCR
supply to continue to trace it. After that, it is handled
just like standard PCR reprocessing: After bale breaking
and hand sorting to ensure there aren’t contaminants,
the material is ground into flake, which then passes
through an extensive washing process. From there, the
material is extruded, filtered and pelletized to eliminate
all contaminants. The final step is putting the material
through Envision’s patented devolatilization process to
remove odor and absorbed chemicals. The ocean-bound
material comes out a very high quality and doesn’t have
an odor, Lewis says. The material even has a new name:
In addition, it emerged that the mismanaged waste and
solid-waste disposal was the biggest contributor. For OceanBound Plastic.
instance, developing nations like Haiti don’t have trash “All the obstacles we had before—the bad quality, gray
disposal. So, any plastic disposed of within 30 miles or so color—are eliminated with this process,” Lewis says. One
of the coastline will probably end up in the ocean. recent development for Envision is a bottle produced
from 100% ocean-bound content, a reported world’s first.
Suddenly Envision had a “light-bulb moment.” Says
Lewis, “If we can go into communities and intercept The bottle is made entirely from Envision’s OceanBound
plastic before it reaches the beach or shorelines, we can Plastic and features a silver metallic, pearlescent-effect
overcome all those obstacles that were preventing us from finish. Envision collaborated with materials designer
helping people who want to use ocean plastic. Getting it and colorant supplier Techmer PM, Clinton, Tenn., and
before means we don’t have quality problems.” Envision blow molder Classic Containers, Ontario, Calif., make
chose to go straight to at-risk areas around the world to such a product possible. Steve Loney, director of market
recover the plastics before they enter the ocean. At-risk development for Techmer PM, said that Primal Group, a
areas are defined as places where there’s no formal waste brand that provides natural personal-care products, was
system in place for a population living around 30 miles launching a new product range and wanted the bottles to
from the coastline. The key is to intercept the plastic convey a message of sustainability by repurposing waste
before it reaches the beach or enters a waterway. material. “They basically wanted to create a 100% ocean-
bound plastic bottle,” Loney says. “In the past, it hadn’t
The company partnered with those on the ground in the been 100% ocean-bound, but we were able to overcome
at-risk communities to gather HDPE packaging. Envision some challenges to produce this beautiful silver metallic
created a proprietary scorecard to qualify the on-the- bottle.”
ground partners. For example, the partners must abide

Plastics News July 2018 42