Weekly Roundup: Growing industry need for quality recycled plastic material

11 Jan 2019 --- In packaging news this week, research by the European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC) has highlighted the need for quality recycled plastic materials (rPM) in the packaging industry. This is especially if the increase of rPM envisioned in the Plastics Strategy is to be achieved. In further news, Atlas Holdings acquired Saxco International, while Mondi invested in its Austrian plant to boost its ability to offer liners for flexible intermediate bulk containers. SIG showcased a novel way in which to recycle used beverage cartons by building a school canteen in Thailand entirely from recycled cartons.

In brief: Research studies
The vast majority of plastics converters (76 percent), are convinced that improving the collection and sorting of plastic waste would be the most suitable way to increase the quality of rPM. This is according to results from EuPC’s second survey on the use of recycled plastics materials. The survey also found that the industry thought further measures, such as investments in better recycling technologies (53 percent) and the implementation of better design for recycling (29 percent), could also improve the quality of rPM. The results also showed that an increase of the rPM volumes that are incorporated into new products as envisioned in the Plastics Strategy is practically impossible under the current conditions.SIG's eco-canteen, in Thailand, is made from more than 1.4 million recycled cartons.

In brief: Partnerships, acquisitions and expansions
Mondi, the global packaging and paper group, is investing in its Styria (Austria) plant to further boost its ability to offer safe, clean, environmentally friendly liners for Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBC). “Mondi’s FIBC liners ensure clean food processing and are ideal for milk powder, other foods, pharmaceuticals and additional applications,” says Stefan Pfundner, Business Solution Manager, Mondi Technical Films. Mondi is installing new equipment at Styria to make high-barrier, side-gusseted tubes for FIBCs. This latest equipment upgrade will make Mondi Styria the only plant of its kind able to produce these types of tubes in such food clean conditions.Malibu's glitter bottle, printed by CCL Label Castleford.

Atlas Holdings LLC has acquired Saxco International, a distributor of rigid packaging to the wine, spirits, craft beer and food markets. Saxco offers a broad range of products and services including glass, metal, and plastic containers, capsules, closures, custom packaging and mold development. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In brief: Product launches and certifications
CCL label Castleford has printed the seasonal design for Malibu’s recent Glitter Bottle. The limited edition bottle dresses up in sparkles printed with three different gold effects; two of which were iriodin to get the glitter look effect. The package design of this limited edition bottle captures the seasonal spirit by enhancing the original white bottle with palm trees with a festive red color, as well as sparkles.

In brief: Miscellaneous
SIG has showcased how companies and communities can come together to turn waste into value through a novel “eco-canteen” that is made almost entirely from used beverage cartons at a school in Thailand. Opened in September 2018, the canteen is highlighted as an example of how to encourage recycling by demonstrating the value it can bring to communities. The 170 children at the school can now drink their milk from cartons in a canteen made of cartons. More than 1.4 million cartons went into the canteen. Food manufacturer Fiber Pattana supplied the tiles for the roof and panels for the walls, made out of aluminum and polymers from used carton packs collected mainly from schools. The chipboard tables and chairs were produced from cartons recycled by Ampol Foods, a SIG customer that runs its recycling plant for beverage cartons.

By Laxmi Haigh

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