LanzaTech and Plastipak develop carbon-captured PET resin for cross-industry packaging

23 May 2023 --- LanzaTech Global and Plastipak Packaging are producing PPKNatura, the “world’s first” PET resin from captured carbon emissions. The resin is suitable for food, personal care, pharmaceutical packaging and other applications such as hot-fill, refillables and applications where a low crystallinity is required.

LanzaTech is a carbon capture and transformation (CCT) company that converts leftover carbon from productions into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics and packaging. PPKNatura leverages CarbonSmart MEG (monoethylene glycol) from LanzaTech’s CCT process.

“LanzaTech’s commercial technology is designed to enable its partners in diverse industries to reduce their carbon footprint and overall environmental impact. Our partnership with Plastipak is critical to demonstrating what is possible. Today, we are producing food- and pharmaceutical-grade packaging,” says Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech.

Swiss retailer Migros and its subsidiary Mibelle Group are the first to use the PPKNatura PET for in-house brand packaging, including PET bottles for smoothies and household cleaners containers, carrying LanzaTech ethanol as a key ingredient.

PPKNatura resin for reduced GHG
The CCT technology works like a brewery in which proprietary bacteria consume pollution and convert it into CarbonSmart chemicals. Traditional PET resin comprises 30% MEG derived from petroleum.

LanzaTech Global and Plastipak create PET resin for food packaging using CCT.The companies state that PPKNatura retains the technical properties of virgin fossil PET while carrying a lower carbon footprint. Additionally, non-packaging PET applications can also take advantage of this resin. The packaging from PPKNatura can be fully recycled at the end of its life, keeping carbon in a circular cycle.

Additionally, PPKNatura resin reduces GHG and its production process does not require land or food resources. “The use of fossil fuels must be avoided. Where this is not possible, it makes sense to include GHG in products so that the gasses do not contribute to global warming and climate change,” says Christoph Meili, a specialist in life cycle assessments at WWF Switzerland.

Pedro Martins, executive managing director of Europe at Plastipak, says the company aims to produce PET with lower environmental impacts: “The use of CarbonSmart MEG is a first milestone in our journey toward this goal, and combined with the use of renewable electricity in the production process, has contributed to significant progress in indicators such as carbon reduction and use of fossil resources.”

“PPKNatura resin is one element of Plastipak’s environmental, social and governance program, which among other initiatives, targets the extension of our product circularity with the intent of supporting customers in reducing their scope 3 emissions.”

Capturing carbon
Recently, Coty’s portfolio brand Gucci launched the “world’s first” globally distributed fragrance manufactured using fully carbon-captured alcohol. The perfume uses “CarbonSmart” alcohol developed by LanzaTech.

However, research by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found that CCT may present an enormous financial and environmental risk. According to the study, carbon capture storage (CCS) facilities usually justify and promote fossil fuel usage and often underperform or fail.

The research assessed 13 major flagship CCS projects globally. The projects are part of the natural gas, industrial and power sectors in terms of history, economics and performance. These sectors are said to account for around 55% of the total current operational capacity worldwide.

By Sabine Waldeck

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