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Honeywell And Hinergy Announce Advanced Plastic Recycling Program
- Honeywell’s UpCycle Process Technology selected to recycle up to 30,000 tons of mixed waste plastics per year
Honeywell has announced that Beijing Hinergy Qingyuan Technology Co., Ltd. (“Hinergy”) will deploy Honeywell UpCycle Process Technology to help accelerate plastic recycling in China. R-PET
Hinergy plans to build a plastic facility in Shandong Province that will deploy Honeywell’s UpCycle Process Technology to convert waste plastic into recycled polymer feedstock (RPF). The facility is expected to transform 30,000 tons of mixed waste plastics into RPF per year using Honeywell’s technology. The collaboration underscores Honeywell’s focus on the energy transition, one of three compelling megatrends Honeywell’s portfolio is aligned to alongside automation and the future of aviation.
UpCycle reduces the need for fossil fuel-derived virgin plastics. When used in conjunction with other chemical and mechanical recycling processes – along with improvements to collection and sorting – Honeywell’s UpCycle Process Technology has the potential to help recycle nearly 90% of waste plastics. R-PET
This would represent a considerable increase in the amount of waste plastics that can be turned into polymer feedstock.
“Hinergy is fully committed to technological development and project construction in China’s environmental protection industry.
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VTT launches new initiative to demonstrate energy-efficient manufacturing technologies for fiber-based products
The initiative will pioneer low-carbon, water-efficient technology with the potential to reduce water consumption by up to 90% and overall energy consumption by more than half. R-PET
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland announces a new initiative to address the challenges of energy and resource consumption in the forestry and textile industry. The goal of the Energy First initiative is to act as a starting point for an entirely new technology, which creates the conditions for the manufacture of low-carbon, energy-efficient, and recyclable fiber-based products.
With the continued growth of, for example, global e-commerce, the demand for various fiber-based packaging solutions is projected to grow 5-10% annually, according to data from Statista Market Insights and eMarketer. R-PET
As such, there is a need to develop scalable, high-quality packaging that is easy to recycle while simultaneously significantly reducing carbon footprint. Within non-wovens, used in napkins and wipes for example, VTT expects a strong shift from traditional products that contain plastic to cellulose-based products.
With a budget of around 20 million euros over the next four years, the initiative consists of several projects and will establish a new innovative open-access pilot line in Jyväskylä, Finland. The collaborative research aims at developing and testing commercially viable, sustainable alternatives for cardboard packaging, hygiene products, and non-woven fabrics. R-PET
“This new initiative is a pivotal step towards more sustainable and competitive fiber-based products, and has the potential for great impact, thanks to more than 50 industrial partners. We are excited about the prospect of 1:1 commercial projects with companies, driving innovation in energy-efficient paper board production. VTT’s purpose is to bring together people, business, science and technology, paving the way to a sustainable future. The Energy First theme aims to do just that,” says Atte Virtanen, Vice President, Biomaterial Processing and Products at VTT. R-PET
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Ford has revised its electric vehicle strategy, shifting focus to more affordable models rather than large SUVs for private customers
The automaker scrapped plans for a large electric SUV, opting to offer it only in hybrid versions. This decision incurs a $400 million accounting charge and additional expenses of around $1.5 billion, impacting this quarter’s financial results.
Ford plans to launch an electric commercial vehicle in 2026, followed by two electric SUVs in 2027. The company aims to prioritize vehicles with lower prices and better range, aligning with customer preferences. CEO Jim Farley emphasized that Ford, as America’s second-largest electric vehicle maker, has gained insights into customer demands and profitability. R-PET
To reduce costs, Ford is reevaluating its battery supply chain. This includes relocating a joint production facility with South Korea’s LG from Poland to Michigan, which produces batteries for the Mustang Mach-E. Additionally, Ford’s BlueOval joint venture with South Korea’s SK will supply batteries for current and future electric vehicles, with production based in the U.S.
The market reacted positively to these announcements, with Ford’s stock rising 1.83% to $3.62 on Wall Street. R-PET
The PET Recycling Coalition has released its first annual report, detailing progress in increasing collection and recycling of one of the most common plastics in packaging.
The coalition, launched in 2022, is part of The Recycling Partnership. Over the past two years, the initiative has distributed more than $5 million in grants, resulting in the addition of 29 million pounds per year of recycled PET that previously had not been captured, according to the report. R-PET
The coalition awards grants to MRFs, secondary sorters and reclaimers to improve acceptance, increase capture and deliver higher-quality recycled PET to responsible end markets, the report said. The grants support facility upgrades, improved sortation capabilities and community engagement to boost recycling rates.
The organization aims to achieve a milestone of 250 million pounds per year of PET captured by the end of 2027 and a level of at least 60% acceptance for non-bottle PET by the end of 2025. Also by the end of 2025, the coalition hopes to achieve “scaled recycling for pigmented and opaque PET.” R-PET
Grant recipients across the country
The report included several case studies of grant recipients, showcasing how the entities’ efforts were producing quantifiable results.
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A New Life for Styrofoam?
A promising study sheds light on how Styrofoam, known to packaging professionals as expanded polystyrene (EPS foam), can be transformed into a valuable and desired resource. R-PET
Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene (EPS), has long been used as a packaging material, cushioning products as diverse as laptops, beauty tools, and furniture — and keeping them protected through the rigors of distribution. It has also long been vilified by environmentalists because of the challenges associated with its recyclability.
A new study conducted jointly by researchers from the University of Delaware and Argonne National Laboratory and published in JACS Au, spotlights a fascinating chemical reaction that can convert EPS into PEDOT:PSS, a high-value conducting polymer for electronics. R-PET
The study demonstrates how upgraded plastic waste can be successfully incorporated into functional electronic devices like silicon-based hybrid solar cells and organic electrochemical transistors.
How the EPS is converted into a valuable resource.
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Fonterra makes significant strides in sustainable packaging
Fonterra has been recognised for its commitment to sustainable packaging, achieving ‘Leading’ status under the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) standards based off their 2024 Annual Report. R-PET
APCO aims to reduce the environmental impact of packaging in Australia, working with government and industry to improve packaging sustainability.
It holds organisations to account across a range of metrics including governance & strategy, recoverability, problematic materials and design & procurement.
Fonterra’s fresh milk bottles were the focus of a collaboration with PACT Group and Circular Plastics Australia. Pictured: Fonterra’s Sustainability Packaging Manager, Global Markets, Jenny Phillips.
Fonterra Sustainability Packaging Manager for Global Markets, Jenny Phillips, said that APCO plays a crucial role in driving the transition towards more sustainable packaging practices in Australia. R-PET
“Since last year, we have improved our APCO performance rating from 74 per cent to 79 per cent, with notable advancements in two key areas – Disposal Labelling and Recycled Content.
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Carbon dioxide – AC Plastics secures contracts to supply components for luxury car brands 22-08-2024
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