Page 44 - Plastics News March 2021

produCt news

RenCom and Coperion to develop Amcor launches new PCR/PET

RENOL®, a lignin-based material bottle

ollowing comprehensive studies in Coperion’s extrusion mcor has developed what it says is the first fresh
Ftest lab in Stuttgart, Germany, RenCom and Coperion Amilk bottle partly made of transparent post-
have developed the innovative extrusion process of consumer recycled (PCR) PET resin to be available in
RENOL®, a lignin-based material. Using Coperion’s ZSK Argentina. The custom-designed 1-litre container, for
dairy maker Mastellone Hnos, supports the positioning
of the La Serenísima Original milk brand as a natural
product while also delivering optimum shelf-life and
increased sustainability benefits, Amcor said.

The latest innovation follows the October 2019 launch
of Mastellone’s shelf-stable, ultra-high temperature
white milk in aseptic, white-coloured PET bottles made
by Amcor. The container includes a 38mm finish and a
HDPE screw cap from Bericap North America – the joint
venture between Amcor and Bericap. A key technical
challenge was limiting light exposure and preventing
damage to the product. To preserve the contents, a
special barrier was developed to help extend shelf-life.
twin screw extruder technology lignin can be transformed
into durable, reusable biomaterial. Coperion has delivered According to the company dairy companies in Latin
a ZSK twin screw extruder, gravimetric feeders, a strand American are increasingly using clear PET bottles to
pelletizing system, a lignin bag dump station and a showcase freshness and quality. The cold-fill bottle
big bag station to RenCom. The system has now been contains 20 per cent PCR content and is designed to drive
successfully commissioned and production has already consumers from aseptic packages to the chilled section
started, according to schedule. RenCom will be able to of the grocery store. Amcor responded to the challenge
produce more than 1,000 tons of RENOL® per year. The with a distinctive transparent bottle combined with an
comprehensive studies in Coperion’s test lab and the effective barrier to preserve the product, said Gaston
realization of the extrusion system for theproduction Do minguez ,
of RENOL® has been the beginning of a successful manager of R&D
partnership between RenCom and Coperion. “We are packaging at
very happy to be able to support this innovative company Mastellone. “We
on their exciting journey. We see big potential for their wanted to align
lignin-based product decreasing the carbon footprintby our grass-fed
substituting fossil-based plastics. We are proud to support sourced, ultra-
the production of their sustainable products”, comments pasteurised fresh
Peter von Hoffmann, General Manager Business Unit milk product with
Engineering Plastics & Special Applications at Coperion. Amcor’s clear
“We, at RenCom, are very proud that the ZSK extruder plastics bottle,”
has started. We are now in a position to produce RENOL® Dominguez said.
in large quantities and thus make a major contribution “Along with meeting key functional requirements,
to the challenges with fossil-based plastics”, says Johan we were also able to reduce our impact on the
Verendel, RenCom’s Chief Technical Officer. Renol® can environment.” According to Amcor’s Asset Lifecycle
be used in ratios up to 50 % in applications such as films Analysis, PET bottles often have the lowest carbon
(shopping bags, mulch films or retail bags), injection
molding (furniture and automotive parts) and as an infill footprint and their production results in up to 70
material for artificial football pitches replacing toxic and per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than other
non-degradable rubber. packaging materials.

Plastics News March 2021 44