Nonwoven
Crude Oil Prices Trend
Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime
EFSA has updated its guidelines for authorizing mechanical recycling processes of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) intended for food contact under Regulation (EU) 2022/1616
This revised guidance outlines the criteria and scientific methods EFSA will use to evaluate the effectiveness of decontamination in recycling processes.
Applicants must provide detailed information about the entire recycling process, including collection, pre-processing, decontamination, post-processing, and intended use. They must also demonstrate the decontamination efficiency through a challenge test and conduct a self-assessment of the process. Nonwoven
One key requirement is that exposure to contaminants from recycled PET in food packaging must not exceed 0.0025 μg/kg of body weight per day. This threshold, known as the “threshold of toxicological concern” (TTC), represents the level below which potential genotoxic risks to human health are considered negligible.
EFSA will evaluate the safety of PET recycling processes based on the submitted data to ensure they meet the updated criteria for safe use in food contact materials. Nonwoven
A Groundbreaking Solution to the Issue of Plastic Waste
A study led by Tokyo Metropolitan University professor Kotohiro Nomura and published in Industrial Chemistry and Materials describes how to depolymerize PET (polyethylene terephthalate) using alcohols and an easily accessible, low-cost iron trichloride catalyst.
This technology can be used for the selective chemical recycling of textile and plastic waste mixtures. Nonwoven
Plastic waste is a major environmental concern that demands immediate response. However, the rate of plastic reuse (material recycling) is still low, particularly in the case of chemical recycling into raw materials, also known as chemical recycling.
Polyesters, which are composed of repeating “ester bonds” generated by the interaction of carboxylic acid with alcohol, are widely utilized in plastic bottles and garments.
Polyester can be reduced to its component parts entirely if these ester bonds could be broken. However, conventional procedures require high temperatures together with significant quantities of basic or acidic chemicals. Nonwoven
As a result, a straightforward, economical, and ecologically friendly approach is widely desired.
More…
Origin Materials has introduced the world’s first tethered PET beverage cap, designed to improve recycling and reduce litter
Detached bottle caps often become environmental hazards, polluting parks, beaches, and oceans, and harming wildlife. Origin’s innovation ensures that caps stay attached to bottles, addressing both environmental concerns and new European Union regulations that mandate tethered caps. Nonwoven
This breakthrough cap is made entirely from PET, enhancing the recycling process by eliminating the need to separate caps from bottles. By keeping caps connected, the risk of loose litter is reduced, and recycling purity is improved, ensuring PET plastic remains in circulation rather than being downcycled.
John Bissell, co-founder and co-CEO of Origin Materials, highlights that their PET cap technology is well-suited for both the EU and other regions likely to adopt similar regulations. The caps can be produced using virgin, recycled, or bio-based PET, and are designed to be lightweight, sustainable, and user-friendly. Nonwoven
This innovative design not only meets regulatory requirements but also offers significant sustainability benefits. Origin’s tethered PET cap represents a major advancement in packaging, contributing to a more circular economy and addressing a significant market need in the $65-billion caps and closures industry.
Piovan Fdm & Fernholz: sustainable innovation in PP and PS sheet production
In the latest edition of the Spotlight, we hear from Piovan about its collaboration with Fernholz to design a material handling system for the production of PP and PS sheets.
The plastics industry is a sector that requires constant innovation and adaptation. In this dynamic environment, Fernholz, based in Meinerzhagen and Schkopaum, Germany, is at the forefront of sustainable innovation: in recent years, it has significantly reduced packaging weights and sheet thicknesses, working closely with its customers to develop eco-friendly plastic packaging. Nonwoven
Fernholz is a leading manufacturer of multilayer Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets as well as decorated and printed PS sheets. It processes around 2,000 tonnes of polymers per month. This equates to approximately 2.5 billion packaging units per year.
In March 2022, Fernholz started the expansion of the Schkopau plant, which is dedicated to the production of PP and PS sheets mainly for the dairy industry, by adding a co-extrusion line. The complete system was designed, manufactured and commissioned by Piovan Fdm. Nonwoven
More…
At FILTECH, the trade fair for filters and filtration systems in Cologne (12-14 November), Oerlikon Nonwoven will be presenting its market- and customer-oriented system solutions for filtration applications. The Neumünster-based plant engineering company for nonwoven production technology will be offering trade fair visitors the opportunity to meet the team in hall 8, stand B18 and immerse themselves in the company’s comprehensive product and process expertise. Nonwoven
Filtration: Meltblown solutions for the highest demands
Oerlikon Nonwoven meltblown technology enables the efficient and simple production of unique and highly sophisticated nonwovens for filtration, insulation and sorption applications. The polymers used for the production of filter media and membranes are just as diverse as their areas of application. The spectrum ranges from classic polyolefins (PP, PE) through PET, PLA, PBT and PA to speciality plastics such as PPS and TPU. All these and other raw materials can be safely processed using the Oerlikon Nonwoven Meltblown process.
With the Edana Filtrex Innovation Award-winning hycuTEC hydrocharging technology for the production of highly efficient electret filter media, the pressure loss of a typical FFP2 filter medium can be reduced to less than a quarter. Nonwoven
“Filtration efficiencies of over 99.99% are easy to achieve with typical filter media of around 35 g/m² with a maximum pressure loss of 35 Pa,” explains Dr Ingo Mählmann, Director Sales & Marketing Oerlikon Nonwoven. “What’s more, this innovative process eliminates the need for an additional drying process for the production of high-separation electret filter media for most applications,” he continues.
More…
Volkswagen has partnered with Germany’s Revoltech to develop a sustainable leather alternative called LOVR, made from industrial hemp waste
This innovative material is vegan, oil-free, recyclable, and compostable, using waste from hemp grown for the food industry, combined with a plant-based adhesive. LOVR is versatile, moldable, and can be produced with existing industrial equipment, making it scalable for mass production. Nonwoven
LOVR could be used in Volkswagen car interiors by 2028 and has potential applications in furniture, footwear, and clothing. Unlike traditional materials, LOVR contains no fossil-fuel-based plastics, addressing concerns about microplastics in the environment. The material has already received positive feedback in initial presentations.
Volkswagen’s Kai Grünitz emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable and resource-efficient vehicle development, exploring innovative materials across various industries. Nonwoven
The automaker aims to achieve net carbon neutrality and joined the Leather Working Group in 2023 to enhance transparency in its leather supply chain.
Revoltech, a spin-off from TU Darmstadt founded in 2021, won a Techtextil Innovation Award for LOVR, recognized for its potential to revolutionize traditional and artificial leather. While Volkswagen is not the first automaker to experiment with hemp, this partnership marks a significant step towards sustainable materials in the automotive industry, following earlier efforts by companies like BMW and Ford. Nonwoven
Hydrogen – New method turns plastic waste into valuable resources with vaporizing process 04-09-2024
Nonwoven
