DePoly and PTI collaborate to create closed loop recycled PET bottle

Using a mixed stream of feedstock, ranging from PET plastic packaging, polyester fibres and industrial waste, DePoly’s technology has broken down the PET and polyester back to its raw monomers, Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA).

From this virgin-grade quality PTA, PET pellets were produced. Finally, these PET pellets were blown into recycled PET bottles using PTI’s 40 years of expertise and technology.

A full closed loop
DePoly set out to challenge itself by using PET and Polyester plastic waste from packaging and insulation. The DePoly technology produced a high-quality PTA used to produce recycled PET that was processed into bottles by injection stretch blow moulding. This project demonstrates the strengths of bringing together the technical robustness of DePoly and PTI's extensive expertise in plastic packaging processing and manufacturing. Both companies worked together to demonstrate a closed loop solution for plastic recycling into high-grade bottles. Blowing a PET bottle is generally one of the more challenging end products to produce, highlighting the experience of PTI and maturity of DePoly's technology, capable of bringing a universal approach to PET & Polyester recycling.

Making bottles from varied PET & Polyester waste
DePoly’s uncompromising take on quality has been at the heart of this project. Not only did they succeed in producing a recycled PET bottle, but they did so by taking a broad spectrum of feedstock with the final product being a recycled PET bottle, one of the most difficult products to create. From a challenge point of view, this ticks off all the boxes and further demonstrates that DePoly’s technology is versatile and adaptable, enabling the company to pave the way for a new standard in the industry.

A preliminary screening analysis of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in DePoly rPET materials was also conducted. It showed that the tested sample complies with the overall and specific migration requirements for the PET typical substances in contact with all types of food at any long-term storage at room temperature and below, including hotfill.

“For this project, we really wanted to challenge ourselves, taking a mixture of different PET and polyester containing waste streams that are blended and have different additives. Being able to hold this bottle in my hands, is a testament to DePoly’s and PTI’s ingenuity and expertise”, said Gaetano Dedual, Senior Business Development Manager of DePoly.

“We did not really know what to expect from this first processing and prototyping trials with DePoly's chemically recycled material. For a premiere, the outcome is promising. With PTI’s technical expertise, the prototyping went well, and the quality and performance of the produced samples are similar to a control made from a virgin PET resin”, said Stéphane Morier, Director Project Management of PTI. AT

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