Page 43 - Plastics News June 2023

UK awards €1m grant to study odour-contaminated plastic waste

This project aims to create a proto-
type of the process, so Luxus tech-
nicians can gain an improved under-
standing of how to cope with the
variability in the type and levels of
odour compounds that occur in post-
consumer polymer.

Once proven, the process will pro-
retrofi solution tha requ
min equipmen modifications,
said Luxus, adding that technical plas-
tics compounders can license the
technology if interested.
The project will particularly address
the recycling of post-consumer poly-
propylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE),
Innovate UK has awarded a £840,000 and quantify odour species. which currently present a major chal-
(€970,000) grant to a consortium of lenge.
Another consortium member, Matrix
UK companies and institutions to
Moulding Systems, will develop the According to Luxus, today, under 1%
develop a novel process to remove
processing system design, while injec- of the UK’s 260,000 tonnes of post-
odour from post-consumer recycled
tion moulding company One 51, will consumer PP waste is effectively re-
plastics.
produc fin parts. cycled into high quality products and
The 30-month R&D project, knowns the rest is used in lower value applica-
Recycled plastics which have been in
as Odour Control, will employ tions or landfilled.
contact with heavily perfumed deter-
“unique process technologies” to
gents or food have a ‘scent memory’, “We are pleased that Innovate UK has
deliver second life applications for
which creates quality issues inhibiting recognised the importance of devel-
odour-contaminated plastics, said
further use for the recycled materials. oping a process that will allow for the
plastics recycling specialist and mem- cost-efficient reprocessing of polymer
ber of the consortium, Luxus. The research will look into “removing
retained odour” so the waste poly- that was previously uneconomic to
Luxus will lead the project in collabo- recover due to retained odour,” said
mer can be reprocessed for use in
ration with the University of Lincoln, Luxus project manager, Chris Ker-
high value products, such as civil engi-
to providing a ‘test house’ to identify ridge.
neering and automotive.
Bottles without labels: a trend that is catching on

ood and beverage brands are un- parts in a piece of packaging – all in a Russell Wiseman, head of Global Bev-
Fder constant pressure to reduce bid to increase recyclability. But what erage Solutions, Domino Printing Sci-
waste and improve the recyclabil- if a vital part of the product packag- ences. Here, he explores the growing
ity of their product packaging. Today, ing causes recycling issues? Such is trend of labelless or ‘label-free’ PET
many global brands have taken steps the case with external labels or shrink beverage bottles and highlights how
to switch packaging to easily recycled sleeves on bottles, which provide cru- brands can look to move away from
mono materials, remove colours and cial product information but can result external labels while still adhering
additives, and reduce the number of in significant recycling challenges, said to fundamental product marking re-

June 2023 PLASTICS NEWS 43