Food

REFILM

RECYCLED PLASTIC FILMS FOR THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY

THE VALUE OF PLASTIC WASTE DUMPED IN BASQUE LANDFILLS EXCEEDS EUR 12 MILLION PER YEAR. When plastic is not correctly disposed of in landfills, it often ends up in the sea due to poor waste management. Consumers may be liable for improperly disposing of the products they use, but the plastics manufacturing sector must ensure it provides better control over the materials it handles and the processes it carries out, minimising the amount of waste it generates.

PLASTIGAUR, the company behind REFILM, manufactures plastic film for the packaging industry, which generates plastic waste in its production process, which in turn, has both an environmental and an economic impact.

PLASTIGAUR
OBJECTIVES
  • Develop new films incorporating a specific proportion of recovered material from waste generated by PLASTIGAUR.
  • Manage all rejects generated as a result of the activity.
  • Increase production process efficiency.
RESULTS
  • Films incorporating a specific percentage of recovered material were obtained, with properties that allow their application in the secondary and tertiary packaging sector.
  • The technology used can be adapted to manufacture standard products by incorporating recovered material.
  • Significant savings in raw materials due to reuse of previously rejected material.
  • 24% reduction in the carbon footprint of the production of the new films.
CONCLUSIONS
  • REFILM’s main challenge is to use recycled material in primary packaging in the food sector, since stringent regulatory requirements are set for food contact materials (FCM) for consumers’ health and safety reasons. Material traceability throughout the entire value chain is a necessity to overcome this barrier.
  • Many clients are still reluctant to use recycled materials due to lack of quality, availability and adaptability, and major brands tend not to accept recycled materials due to functionality, application, processing or legislation.
  • PLASTIGAUR has introduced new films made from recycled material to its catalogue, and they are already being tested by some of its main customers. This market launch enables PLASTIGAUR to recycle a large part of the waste it generates.

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