FRANCE – Thailand-based packaging producer Indorama Ventures has inked a deal with AMB to drive circularity in PET food tray packaging.
The companies intend to manufacture recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) flakes by recycling PET food tray packaging.
These high-quality rPET flakes can then be used for producing new food packaging trays, contributing to a circular economy system.
This collaborative effort is set to help the companies divert more than 50 million post-consumer PET trays from reaching landfills by the end of 2025.
Indorama’s deputy group CEO and Combined PET executive president DK Agarwal said: “Each new partnership with sustainable packaging leaders like AMB smooths the path towards a circular economy for PET trays and extends the PET life cycle. This means we use less raw materials while the process results in less waste and emissions.”
Indorama will use its recycling technology and expertise to produce rPET flakes using post-consumer trays at its facility in Verdun, France, and then supply them to AMB for manufacturing food-grade transparent film.
The process will further increase the overall recycled content obtained from trays in AMB’s final products.
AMB’s CPO Paolo Cescutti said: “Consumers are mindful of sustainability and food safety and want a guarantee that the food trays they use are recyclable.
“The recycled material now possible through our partnership with Indorama Ventures means we can divert more plastic waste, to become safe, food-grade packaging.
“Food processors and consumers can be confident that AMB products offer true recyclability and food safety.”
Previously, Indorama invested US$20 million to expand its recycling facility in Brazil, a move that will it help optimize the facility’s processes and acquire new equipment such as washing machines to help remove labels, grind bottles in water and reduce water consumption by 70%.
The recycling facility, located in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, is increasing its production capacity from 9,000 metric tonnes to 25,000 metric tonnes of PET, made annually from PCR PET material.
Meanwhile, in June, the company unveiled Surfonic Bio, a line of biosurfactants that offers low toxicity, mildness and biodegradability benefits and is obtained by a sustainable process.
According to the company, the line synergizes with other classes of surfactants and can be used as a primary or secondary surfactant in formulations. The Surfonic line contains specialty wetting agents, emulsifiers and dispersants.
For all the latest packaging and printing industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
