Wrap Commissions Study on Recycled PP for Food Packs

Wrap has commissioned Axion Consulting, in partnership with Greenstar WES, Fraunhofer IVV and Pira Consulting, to undertake the study and test the commercial viability of recycling PP back to food grade material.

24/04/09 The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) is studying the possibility of using recycled polypropylene (PP) for use in food packaging.

Paul Davidson, Wrap special advisor on plastics, said that polypropylene was the "next big challenge" for food-grade recycling but the many different grades and colours made it a difficult process.

"Wrap recognises that retailers, brand owners and packaging companies all want PP available for food-grade packaging," he added.

Wrap has commissioned Axion Consulting, in partnership with Greenstar WES, Fraunhofer IVV and Pira Consulting, to undertake the study and test the commercial viability of recycling PP back to food grade material.

Among other things the study, which is due to be completed in late August, will examine whether existing HDPE recycling processes would work with PP. Wrap has said it will publish the results in the autumn.

Polypropylene is a common plastic in food packaging found in yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and sauce bottles.