CreaCycle GmbH
Auf der Artwick 74
41515 Grevenbroich
Germany
Telephone:
+49 (0) 2181-288806-0
Telefax:
+49 (0) 2181-288806-9
E-Mail:
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Bioplastic Waste in the Waste Streams – SustRecPLA (2014)
Since years the amount and diversity of products made from bio-based plastics is continuously increasing, especially in the packaging segment. Actually, polylactic acid (PLA) is the most important bio-based polymer on the packaging market and because many concepts use PLA as composite material or in blends, the recycling of PLA-containing waste streams is very difficult with conventional processes (e.g. re-granulation), if not impossible.
The information of German consumer associations describes the dilemma very explicitly:”Because bioplastics can actually not be recycled and hinder the recycling of other plastics, they should not be placed into the “yellow bag” (for packaging plastics waste) or the recycling bin. The German Environmental Agency actually recommends the disposal via the residual waste, because then bioplastics can at least be incinerated with energy recovery"3). And even though the term “bio” generally has a positive connotation, the disposal industry over and over again expressed concern, that PLA can disturb the established plastic recycling.
CreaSolv® Pilot plant - Recycling of Polyethylene Sachets – Unilever (2015)
Small single-use plastic pouch packaging, so-called „sachets“ are very popular in developing and emerging countries, because they allow low-income consumers to buy small amounts of quality products that would otherwise be unaffordable to them. Empty flexible packaging is just thrown away or ends up in landfill because there exist no viable recycling technology and generally it lacks a waste logistic in those countries as well. The fact that globally only 14% of all plastic packaging is recycled explains the reports about polluted beaches and garbage patches in the oceans and why Asia is seen as the main problem. But actually there is a growing awareness that every spot on this earth is affected and industrialized countries have a big problem with plastic packaging as well.
Read more: Unilever Sachet Recycling (2015)
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CreaSolv® Pilot plant for Packaging & Automotive Compounds – MultiCycle Project
Less than 1/3 of plastic packaging waste is currently recycled due to technological and economic limitations, thus considering plastic as a single use commodity and the waste as a (financial) burden instead of a “resource”. In its new “Plastic Strategy1)” the European Commission set out a vision that includes cost-effective recycling, larger recycling capacities and a more integrated plastic value chain. The MultiCycle2) project is aimed at stopping resource depletion, land-filling and incineration in regards to plastic waste streams of the packaging and automotive sector. It will start on 1 November 2018 and last until 30 April 2022.
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CreaSolv® Demonstration plant for Plastic Packaging Waste – Lober (2018)
In order to protect sensitive and high-value products from the food and consumer
goods segment, today plastic packaging systems have to meet high requirements and they increasingly consist of complex packaging composite constructions e.g. multi-layer plastic films. These often used multi-layer laminates made of polyethylene/polyamide (PE/PA) and polypropylene/polyethylene terephthalate (PP/PET) are “not recyclable” according to the present state of the art, because existing processing facilities can only treat packaging waste made from one single polymer. The CreaSolv® Process offers a solution to the issue that multi-layer laminates from household waste can only be incinerated and therefore the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports the Circular Packaging1) project with 3.12 Million Euro.
Read more: Circular Packaging (2018)
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CreaSolv® Demonstration Plant for Research and Industry Partners
In 2019, a CreaSolv® Demonstration plant was built by LÖMI GmbH in Germany for the European MultiCycle project. After completion of this project, this CreaSolv® Plant will now also be available for sampling trials with research and industry partners from May 2022.
The plant is designed for alternating demonstration operation for different waste and plastic fractions and reaches a capacity of up to 25 kg/h, depending on the operating mode
Read more: LÖMI - CreaSolv® Demonstration Plant (2022)
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