Greiner Packaging launches rPET beer cups for pub and restaurant service rendezvous

28 Apr 2021 --- Greiner Packaging is launching recycled PET (rPET) cups for beer and other beverages in response to pubs and restaurants resuming outside service after the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions in Europe. 

The new plastic beer cup is made from 100 percent rPET but can be made with 30-50 percent rPET on customer request.

The cups also provide visual appeal through printing options and are suited for embossing the required EU markings during mass production. The company has already produced an initial sample batch series.

“As a plastic packaging producer, Greiner Packaging has taken a close look at the background to the new legal requirements, such as the ban on single-use plastics in the EU and the marking requirement for single-use beverage cups from 3 July 2021,” says Lucian Ocos, sales director at Greiner Packaging.

“Our new rPET beer cups are another sustainable solution that addresses these legal changes effectively.”

PET purity
The company highlights that PET mechanical recycling offers a reliable supply due to the material’s high purity and established recycling loops.

Greiner Packaging indicates the rPET cup concept could enable a dedicated recycling loop at events.In the future, this cup concept will also potentially enable a dedicated recycling loop, for example, at events, it indicates.

“rPET is ideal for a dedicated recycling stream, accommodating environmental, economic, and social considerations,” explains Ocos.

“Mechanical recycling of rPET works well and is extremely efficient. In addition, we can expect chemical rPET recycling to be possible starting in 2025, which will then provide an even higher purity level.”

PET decontamination investment
Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland recently invested over £3.7 million (US$5.1 million) in a new PET decontamination and extrusion line, enabling the use of more recycled materials in its pot and tub range. 

Recycled flake is cleaned and washed but requires further decontamination. Greiner’s new world-class decontamination unit – installed at its factory in Dungannon, Northern Ireland – removes impurities from PET, creating a food-safe material.

The decontamination unit is integrated with a greater material feed system, directly linked to a new, state-of-the-art extrusion line.

This equipment and process arrangement provides complete flexibility with the capacity to utilize recycled input materials, virgin or a combination of both, to meet different customer requirements.

The new PET decontamination and extrusion line come as the UK edges closer to its Plastics Tax. The UK government has released draft legislation and a draft policy paper on the tax – effective from April 2022 – for public consultation.

The draft legislation is proposing a £200 (US$277) per ton tax rate for plastic packaging produced or imported into the UK with less than 30 percent recycled plastic. The measure is expected to impact around 20,000 plastics packaging producers and importers.The UK Plastics Tax proposes a £200 (US$277) per ton tax rate for plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic.

CO2 savings with rPET
Recycled plastics accessible via established circular economies are increasingly integral in fighting climate change. A landmark 2017 Alpla study found recycled PET (rPET) produces 79 percent lower CO2 emissions than virgin PET across the lifecycle.

“Investing in these two new machines is the latest step in our continued commitment to innovate, increase capacity and reduce our carbon footprint,” explains Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland CEO Philip Woolsey.

“Since Greiner Packaging first introduced its K3 cardboard-plastic innovation in 2007, there has been continuous investment at our UK manufacturing facility.”

“But alongside investing to create new packaging solutions, there has been a constant focus on investing in improving our environmental sustainability performance and pursuing our goal to achieve a circular economy. We are working steadily toward the Dungannon plant becoming carbon-neutral by 2025.”

In 2010, Project Cool delivered water cooling capabilities at the Dungannon factory by introducing wind power, reducing overall energy consumption.

This project was immediately followed by the need to remove excess heat from the cooling system. Project SCool delivers the heating requirements for Integrated College close to the factory.

“From April 2019, we began the transition to meeting energy requirements solely from renewable sources. As of April 2021, we will have reached this milestone. In addition, with the introduction of LED lighting site-wide, we have reduced our energy requirement by over 500,000 kWh per annum,” says Woolsey.

By Joshua Poole