Page 38 - Plastics News May 2023

FEATURE

the weight in the finish of a PET bot- leading to an overall carbon footprint
tle. The technology reduces manu- reduction of 78%.
facturing costs and GHG emissions, In a statement reflecting both respect
resulting in energy savings and lower and praise for the winners, PLAS-
carbon emissions compared to bot- TICS’ vice president of Sustainability,
tles with a traditional finish.
Patrick Krieger, said that the ‘plastics
PowerPost lightweighting technology: industry is innovating every day to find
the most advanced lightweighting new ways to keep plastic in the circu-
technology for hot-fill beverages. This lar economy and out of the environ-
technology delivers a fully recyclable ment. “I congratulate our winners and
bottle that is up to 30% lighter and am proud to be part of an industry
can be made with up to 100% recy- that is committed to sustainability and
• Leadership in Sustainability Inno- cled material. The technology enables advancing the circular economy.”
vation Award: Amcor Rigid Pack- a 30% energy reduction and 30%
aging carbon savings over most 20 oz - 600 This year’s Re|focus event will take
place from 1-3 May in Minneapolis,
This award, which honours a compa- ml - bottles available today. MN. The awards will be presented
ny with the best overall score across PepsiCo 2.5 L PET returnable, reus- during a ceremony on 2 May.
the three categories, went to Amcor able, and refillable bottle is a 100%
Rigid Packaging. Amcor submitted recyclable and refillable 2.5 L poly- The Plastics Industry Association is
three entries, each of which under- ethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle the only organisation that supports
scores the company’s ongoing com- created in partnership with GEEP, the entire plastics supply chain. Since
mitment to develop and deliver novel PepsiCo’s exclusive bottler in Mexico. 1937, PLASTICS has been working to
and more sustainable packaging solu- These bottles are made from a tailor- make its members, and the sixth larg-
tions for its customers, while ‘advanc- made PET designed to allow hot fill- est U.S. manufacturing industry, more
ing the circular economy for plastics’, ing and carbonated soft drink (CSD) globally competitive while supporting
said Dr. Terry Patcheak, vice presi- packaging, and to be washed and re- circularity through educational ini-
dent R&D, Sustainability and Program filled multiple times. Amcor’s life cy- tiatives, industry-leading insights and
Management at Amcor Rigid Packag- cle assessment from cradle (raw ma- events, convening opportunities and
ing. These innovations were: terial) to gate (production) of the PET policy advocacy, including the largest
plastics trade show in the Americas,
Quantum Premium lightweight finish returnable bottle against a common NPE2024: The Plastics Show.
technology, a two-step lightweighting glass bottle demonstrates that non-
technology that eliminates unneces- renewable energy consumption is
sary material – more than 50% - of reduced by 57% and water consump-
tion is reduced by 49%, ultimately

Recycling Report Describes Recovery from 2020 Lows

t the 2023 ISRI Convention in The report breaks down increases in terms of lbs recovered, while produc-
ANashville, Nina Butler, CEO at the total number of lbs recovered for tion increased, resulting in a recycling
Stina, reported results from the 2021 bottles, non-bottle rigids, and films in rate drop from 15.4% to 12.9%.
U.S. Post-consumer Plastic Recycling 2021, compared with 2020. The recy- Recovery of non-bottle rigid plastic in-
Data Report. According to Butler, cling rate of both PET and HDPE bot- creased to 1.07 billion lbs, and recov-
recyclers processed over 5 billion tles rose, as the increase in recovery ery of post consumer film increased
pounds of post-consumer plastic in for PET bottles was greater than the to 1.11 billon lbs.
the U.S. in 2021, an increase of 5.8% increase in resin sales, while the de-
over 2020. Previously, recovery of re- crease in recovery for HDPE bottles U.S. Exports of Post Consumer Plas-
cycled materials declined by 290 mil- was less than the drop in resin sales. tic Remain at Reduced Levels
lion lbs from 2019-2020. PP bottle recovery also declined in Exports of reclaimed bottles declined

38 PLASTICS NEWS May 2023