Recycling Revolution: Greiner Packaging, Siegwerk, and Krones Pioneer Circular Economy Initiative
Source: The DairyNews
Leading players in the packaging industry, Greiner Packaging, Siegwerk, and Krones, have collaborated on an innovative initiative challenging the conventional belief that direct-printed PP and PS cups are non-recyclable.
This groundbreaking project showcases the effectiveness of cutting-edge recycling facilities in transforming rigid plastic containers into high-quality white recyclates.
The project achieved de-inking and conversion without altering ink formulation or print design, emphasizing the viability of state-of-the-art recycling technologies. Through hot caustic washing, a standard process for PET bottle recycling increasingly adopted for polyolefin (PO) and PS rigid streams, the partners successfully repurposed the containers.
This success challenges existing Design for Recycling Guidelines, urging a reevaluation of the role of printing inks and coatings in recycling processes. The project advocates for a comprehensive assessment of packaging deinkability under standard hot caustic conditions, endorsing the corresponding test standard published under DIN SPEC 91496. This perspective aligns with EuPIA's recent position paper, emphasizing the need for evolving guidelines to keep pace with technological advancements, fostering a circular packaging economy.
The joint efforts of Greiner Packaging, Siegwerk, and Krones signal a pivotal shift in recycling paradigms, underscoring the potential of direct-printed PP and PS cups in contributing to a sustainable and circular future for the packaging industry.
The project achieved de-inking and conversion without altering ink formulation or print design, emphasizing the viability of state-of-the-art recycling technologies. Through hot caustic washing, a standard process for PET bottle recycling increasingly adopted for polyolefin (PO) and PS rigid streams, the partners successfully repurposed the containers.
This success challenges existing Design for Recycling Guidelines, urging a reevaluation of the role of printing inks and coatings in recycling processes. The project advocates for a comprehensive assessment of packaging deinkability under standard hot caustic conditions, endorsing the corresponding test standard published under DIN SPEC 91496. This perspective aligns with EuPIA's recent position paper, emphasizing the need for evolving guidelines to keep pace with technological advancements, fostering a circular packaging economy.
The joint efforts of Greiner Packaging, Siegwerk, and Krones signal a pivotal shift in recycling paradigms, underscoring the potential of direct-printed PP and PS cups in contributing to a sustainable and circular future for the packaging industry.
