Page 39 - Plastics News September 2021

PRoDUCT NEwS

Constantia Flexibles Trials Recyclable Laminate for sensitive, extended shelf-life (ESL)

Product beverages such as juices and dairy
products. According to the companies,
the production and recycling of glass
films, ie films consisting of several returnable containers leads to an
materials. “The current practice of increased carbon footprint. In addition,
incinerating or downcycling production glass bottles are heavier than returnable
waste will then be a thing of the past, PET containers, which are lighter,
an important step towards a more break-proof and more stable. The
sustainable future.”In 2019, Constantia returnable PET container developed
Flexibles’ EcoLamHighPlus high-barrier by the companies is said to provide an
laminate was tested for its recyclability optimal environment for sensitive ESL
in the existing low-density polyethylene products. ALPLA returnables expert
(LDPE) recycling stream by the RecyClass and project lead Jörg Schwärzler said:
ustrian packaging manufacturer Initiative of European Plastics Recyclers. “Until now, the main applications for
AConstantia Flexibles has completed The company employs around 8,540 returnable PET containers have been
an industrial recycling trial of its EcoLam employees across 36 sites in 16 countries. carbonated soft drinks and water. “But
laminate product, which aims to offer a In May, the company agreed to purchase we were certain that, if we combined
high barrier while being easily recyclable. packaging manufacturer Propak for our expertise in materials science,
In the trial, production waste from an undisclosed sum. Based in Turkey, pre-form design, container design and
different EcoLam family laminates, Propak produces packaging for the systems engineering, we could find a
including ethylene-vinyl alcohol snacks market. It operates from one plant solution for sensitive beverages like
copolymer, metallisation, adhesives and employs around 360 people. juices and dairy products. “The option
and inks, was broken down and sent of using a 38mm bottleneck offers
for reprocessing. Recycling machine particular advantages for sensitive
manufacturer EREMA, a Constantia ALPLA And Krones returnable applications. The returnable
Flexibles partner, used an industrial-scale PET container was also tested at
extruder to reprocess the waste into Work Together To Krones’ development plant for washing
regranulates, which were then converted technology in Flensburg, Germany,
at the company’s Constantia Pirk into Develop Returnable to analyse the interaction of various
a blown film.This film was used as a PET Container bottle designs and cleaning processes.
sealant when laminating new EcoLam The solution is currently undergoing
materials.The trial demonstrated that microbiological safety testing. Krones
printed and metallised polyethylene development engineer Ines Bradshaw
(PE) based laminates from the EcoLam said: “The tests provided us with a
family can be reprocessed into new films. very clear picture of the respective
Examinations of the trials also showed thermal, chemical and mechanical
that the lamination film contained up to factors. “With the right combination of
80% recycled content. In addition, the parameters, especially lye concentration,
company found that the type of adhesive temperature, additive and mechanical
and printing inks used impacts the impact, temperatures [of] around
quality of recyclable material. Constantia 60°C are sufficient to reliably remove
Flexibles Research and Development ustria-based plastic manufacturer even dried protein, fat and starch
Group senior vice-president Prof Dr AALPLA has collaborated with contamination from the containers.”
Achim Grefenstein said: “In a circular packaging and bottling machine ALPLA recently worked with Croatian
economy, it is crucial that recyclable company Krones on a returnable water bottling company Jamnica to
packaging laminates can be reused by the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) develop an 0.5l bottle made from fully
laminate manufacturers themselves, as container research project. The joint recycled PET for its Jana Natural still
is already the case for many coextruded project focused on finding an alternative
solution to returnable glass containers mineral water brand.

39 PLASTICS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021