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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Styrenics Circular
Solutions (SCS), a value chain initiative to increase the circularity of
styrenics, announced that it has successfully demonstrated that polystyrene
(PS) is mechanically recyclable to food contact standards, reported GV.
In cooperation with the
Fraunhofer-Institute fur Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung IVV, SCS performed
so-called challenge tests, which confirmed the high cleaning efficiency of the
mechanical recycling technology for polystyrene to remove impurities originating
from waste streams. These results enable the first application for an opinion of
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the use of recycled polystyrene
(r-PS) as food contact material.
With the aim to consistently achieve the
very high purity levels of the polystyrene recyclate needed for food contact
materials, the ‘supercleaning’ technology of machine manufacturer Gneuss was
used during the mechanical recycling process. Its ability to handle
post-consumer polystyrene waste from food contact packaging was ‘stress tested’
and challenged by adding impurities under worst-case assumptions. The challenge
test revealed the very good cleaning efficiency of the technology used, leading
to excellent purity levels of the r-PS. This result is supported by the
intrinsic properties of polystyrene being a low diffusion polymer, which
prevents that any waste impurities enter into or migrate through the polymer
matrix.
The resulting quality of the r-PS provides producers of packaging
for the food industry with utmost flexibility, as it can be used in their
existing industrial production processes such as extrusion and thermoforming.
Members of SCS delivered the proof of concept that mechanically recycled
polystyrene can serve as a drop-in solution in form, fill and seal (FFS)
production lines. Multiple variants for packaging are possible: single layer,
co-extrusion of the r-PS with virgin polystyrene or use of the recyclate as
middle layer between virgin polystyrene (A-B-A).
Frank Eisentraeger,
Product Director PS EMEA, Ineos Styrolution and member of the SCS working group
Waste Feedstock said: “The challenge test indicates that polystyrene is one of
the best recyclable materials, including for food contact applications. The test
results are of crucial importance as they give brand owners and packaging
producers full confidence that the applied mechanical recycling technology
delivers the required high purity levels for their business. Most importantly,
the qualities of the polystyrene molecule remain stable and do not degrade in
multiple mechanical recycling. We can recycle polystyrene over and over
again.”
Jens Kathmann, Secretary General SCS, said: “This is a huge
milestone in styrenics' contribution to the circular economy. Recycled
polystyrene of food grade quality combines all the well-known application,
processing and environmental advantages of polystyrene, with the added value of
being a fully circular polymer. This is a great attraction and value for the
market. We are delighted to take the next step by filing our application with
EFSA for food contact acceptance."
As MRC wrote earlier,
Trinseo says feedstock supply issues that threatened the operation of its
300,000-metric tons/year styrene monomer (SM) plant in Boehlen, Germany, have
been resolved, and the company is no longer “evaluating strategic options” for
the asset.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report,
Russia's estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics totalled 362,820
tonnes in the first nine months of 2020, down by 1% year on year. September
total estimated PS consumption in Russia was 48,690 tonnes, up by 13% year on
year. |
