JIANGSU GET RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY CO,.LTD.

Circ-pack is a circular economy project funded by the European Commission's horizon 2020.

Through the development of solutions covering the entire plastic value chain from design to recycling, the project proves that the plastic industry can build a circular economy model in a user-friendly way.

Three achievements contribute to the realization of EU 2020 recycling target

The circ-pack project has successfully achieved its three goals:

Development of biodegradable and compostable biomaterials, and recyclable alternatives to bio based plastics;

Produce recyclable multi-layer material packaging designed for environmental protection, instead of non recyclable multi-layer and multi-material packaging;

Improve waste plastic classification and recycling process.

When the innovative products produced by circ-pack are put into the market, it will help the EU to achieve the goal of making all plastic products reusable or recyclable by 2030. It is reported that the project took three years to develop such sustainable plastic application series.

Circ-pack is initiated by fundaci ó ncirce of Spain, and its members are composed of 22 partners from the European Union. The organization develops and tests products from three different aspects of the plastic value chain, production, design and recycling, and proves its achievements.

"The design phase is critical to the sustainable packaging value chain." "We have taken some measures to reduce the overall environmental footprint of plastic products and plastic packaging, such as the production of bioplastics from renewable raw materials," said Aitana s á ezde GUINOA Vilaplana, the project leader.

"The product's compostable capabilities can ultimately minimize the environmental impact of some products that are currently not recyclable at the end of their life. The key achievement of this project is to keep the closed-loop mode of materials and improve the recycling process, which can also be applied to various industries other than packaging. "

Biomass plastics, multi-layer recyclable plastics and waste utilization rate increased by 20%

The circ-pack partner presented three different R & D cases. The first is to develop, test and manufacture a series of biodegradable and compostable biomaterial formulations with high content of renewable resources.

These innovations include coffee capsules, printable durable handbags, shampoo bottles and food trays that are resistant to high temperature and mechanical stress.

The second case proves that it can produce multi-layer and multi-material packaging with environmental protection and without loss of customer satisfaction. The developed materials include fresh product tray film and washing powder packaging box. For multi-layer film, all materials can be composted under the same conditions. For multi material boxes, all components can be recycled in the paper recycling process.

The third case is to develop a new scheme to improve the overall recyclability of plastics by upgrading technology and methods. For example, when recycling automobile waste, it is found that low-cost materials will increase the risk of recycling; hemp seed oil additives used in the recycling process can be replaced by cheaper and more environmentally friendly cellulose waste.

It is reported that the new recycling process can increase the utilization rate of automobile waste in the recycling yard by 20%. At the same time, circ-pack also uses recycled plastics from different waste sources to produce new plastic products.

For example, in the recycling of diaper waste (AHH products), it is found that the recyclable plastic components are improved after the elimination of super absorbent polymer (SAP).

In addition, tests have shown that cellulose residues from the recycling process can also be used as fillers for plastic applications, although pretreatment is required to promote dispersion and adhesion.

New products are recognized by consumers.

Circ-pack has developed several renewable and compostable environmental packaging alternatives, and conducted user testing to prove consumer satisfaction.

Circ-pack launched consumer tests in six European countries (Belgium, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Croatia), which proved that the public not only accepted new bioplastic products, but also preferred them to some extent. What attracts them is the appearance, usability and durability of the package.

"Consumer satisfaction is the key to improving the use of renewable or reusable plastics, so product quality must reach a very high level. In the circ-pack project, together with our industrial partners, we have proved that it is feasible to consider both market and environmental protection. " Aitana s á ezde GUINOA Vilaplana stressed.