March 6, 2024Flake Sorting: Elevating Plastic RecyclingAdvanced flake sorting technologies are revolutionizing the recycling industry by enhancing the quality and efficiency of plastic recycling processes. Read more
March 1, 2024Plastics Biodegradability: What Lies Beneath the LabelThe term “biodegradable” evokes images of materials effortlessly breaking down into the earth, leaving no trace. But what does it truly entail? According to the Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics ASTM D883-23, biodegradable plastic refers to degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae. Read more
February 22, 2024The Urgent Push for Recycling System Improvements in the USIn the face of escalating environmental concerns, the efficacy of recycling systems has never been more critical. The Recycling Partnership reveals a comprehensive document “The State of Recycling: The Present and Future of Residential Recycling in the U.S. 2024” which shows some insights from the US recycling system, underscoring the necessity for a holistic approach. Read more
February 16, 2024Recycled ABS Contributes to a More Sustainable ShowerHansgrohe and Phoenix Design have partnered to enable recycled ABS and upcycled PET to contribute to a more sustainable hand-held shower. The effort earned them a prestigious German eco-design award. Read more
February 14, 202496-Cavity Mold Conversion: A Seamless and Beneficial TransitionMHT wowed the PET-preform industry by cutting cycle time by three seconds in a 96-cavity mold conversion for Deltaplast. This remarkable feat, transitioning from Engel to Netstal after 6.5 million cycles, showcases MHT’s adaptability. Read more
February 10, 2024Do Plastic Bottles Release Microplastics?Microplastics, particles measuring less than 5 mm in length, have emerged as a pressing environmental concern, necessitating a detailed examination of their impact and ecological repercussions, but do microplastics in bottled water come from plastic bottles themselves? Read more
February 8, 2024New EU Regulation: What You Need to Know about Food ContactNew regulations for food contact materials are getting stricter, especially for food-grade rPET. In the case of functional barriers from recycled material without prior decontamination, they could be affected and probably discontinued. Read more
February 7, 2024Golden Design Rules for PET Thermoformed PackagingThe Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has introduced Golden Design Rules to boost the recycling value of PET thermoformed trays and other PET thermoformed packaging. These guidelines are tailored to integrate with existing regional recycling programs and pave the way for more efficient recycling systems by 2025. Read more
February 6, 2024The Technology Behind Food-Grade rPETAdvanced machinery that can effectively decontaminate post-consumer plastics is the key to producing rPET with exceptionally high purity. This quality is essential for FDA-approved food-grade packaging. Read more
February 5, 2024Golden Design Rules: Enhancing PET Recycling Through DesignThe Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has established 9 Golden Design rules to tackle plastic pollution. Rule #1 is to increase the value of PET recycling by embracing transparency and simplicity. Read more
February 5, 2024Funding the Drive to Optimize rPET for Additive ManufacturingA pair of U.S. defense-related organizations –– America Makes and NCDMM –– have awarded funds to a project designed to optimize recycled PET (rPET) and rPET-based composites in filament-fed material extrusion 3D printing. Read more
February 5, 2024Editor’s Letter: Navigating Misinterpretation, Nanoplastics in Bottled WaterAs scientists, we must look for the truth, but sometimes this truth can be interpreted differently depending on how our investigation scope was developed. I think this is the case of the recent study that found hundreds of thousands of nanoplastics in bottled water. Read more