Ampacet and Borealis Address Recycled Content Challenges in Rigid Plastic Packaging
Ampacet and Borealis (now Borouge International) are tackling the challenges of incorporating recycled content into rigid plastic packaging, driven by regulatory pressures and circular economy goals. Experts from both companies emphasize the need for improved recyclability and recycling technologies to create sustainable packaging solutions.
François Thibeau, strategic business manager at Ampacet, highlights the growing demand for sustainable packaging with higher recycled content from regulators, brands, and consumers. He notes that while technologies like Ampacet’s ThermProtect PET offer opportunities to meet these demands, challenges such as thermal degradation and maintaining mechanical properties persist.
Borealis is advancing its Borcycle C portfolio, which features chemically recycled polyolefins that meet food-contact compliance and can replace conventional fossil-based polypropylene (PP). Jos van Haastrecht, Borealis’ global communications lead, points out that these materials have been successfully used in various applications, ensuring performance and visual appeal comparable to virgin plastics.
Ampacet’s ThermProtect PET range aims to enhance the performance of recycled PET (rPET) by addressing thermal degradation during processing, allowing manufacturers to incorporate higher levels of rPET without compromising quality. This innovation supports circular economy initiatives by reducing reliance on virgin plastics and promoting closed-loop recycling systems.
Borealis’ use of chemically recycled feedstock aligns with EU regulations, such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and helps lower the carbon footprint of plastic production. The company’s Borcycle C materials are ISCC PLUS certified, ensuring transparency in the recycled content supply chain.
Both companies recognize the importance of consumer transparency in building trust in recycled packaging. Borealis’ collaboration with Valio on Oivariini butter-blend spread packaging showcases how clear labeling and digital content can enhance consumer understanding of recycled materials.
As the market trends toward substantiated sustainability, companies are urged to verify their environmental claims. The collaboration between Ampacet, Borealis, and their partners illustrates the potential for innovation in rigid plastic packaging while addressing sustainability challenges. With a focus on advanced recycling technologies and consumer education, the industry moves closer to achieving its circular economy goals.