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Tag Archives: Europe

High-tech mechanical recycling facilities come to Europe

Published: April 13, 2022
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Viridor/AMUT facility interior.

U.K.-based Viridor used AMUT technology in its new polymer recycling facility. | Courtesy of AMUT

Two large, new facilities in Europe will be able to process a combined total of over 200,000 tons of plastic scrap using high-tech equipment. The following are more details on the PreZero and Viridor facilities.

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Applying ‘trust, but verify’ to recycled-content claims

Published: February 23, 2022
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ReCon^2

Using an FDA-approved additive, ReCon^2 has developed a method for verifying recycled content claims. | Courtesy of ReCon^2

Rising prices for post-consumer resin also bring a greater incentive for shady suppliers to cheat. A U.K. nonprofit is commercializing a technology that will detect lies about recycled plastic use.

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Report: PET recycling improving in EU

Published: February 2, 2022
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PET bales stacked for recycling.

Research estimates that in 2020 in Europe, 2.4 million tons of PET was recycled into 1.7 million tons of flake. | Menzl Guenter/Shutterstock

The European PET market is making progress toward a circular industry but needs to improve collection rates, according to a new report.
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Europe roundup: UK cracks down on recycling claims

Published: January 26, 2022
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Earlier this month, PreZero opened a plant in the German municipality of Eitting, near Munich, that will sort up to 120,000 metric tons of lightweight packaging a year. | Courtesy of PreZero

More plastic recycling is coming to Europe with Biffa and PreZero announcing expansion projects, while a U.K. advertising regulator is targeting big brands for their bottle recycling claims.

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Global tensions drive high oil prices

Published: January 26, 2022
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Oil pumps at sunset in Russia.

Oil price movements could put upward price pressure on virgin resin prices, improving the marketability of recycled resins. | ded pixto/Shutterstock

Oil prices are hitting a seven-year high, following tension around the latest COVID-19 variant and Russian pressure on Ukraine.

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Eastman unveils plans for $1B polyester depolymerization plant

Published: January 19, 2022
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Eastman CEO Mark Costa at right, with Emmanuel Marcon.

Eastman CEO Mark Costa at right, with Emmanuel Marcon at a recent meeting around the company’s investment. | Via Emmanuel Marcon Twitter, @EmmanuelMacron

Procter & Gamble, Danone, L’Oréal and other global brand owners have signed letters of intent to buy chemically recycled resin from a $1 billion plant Eastman is planning in France.

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European panel OKs PET recycling technologies

Published: December 22, 2021
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PET bottles gathered for recycling.

Several technologies for processing post-consumer PET into food and drink packaging have been approved. | srisakorn wonglakorn/Shutterstock

A food-safety panel approved 17 applications to use Starlinger, SML and Protec technologies to recycle post-consumer PET into food and drink packaging. It rejected two other requests.

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Plastic pollution draws federal and global attention

Published: December 1, 2021
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Flags from various nations against a blue sky background.

The U.S. Secretary of State has indicated U.S. support for a global plastics pollution treaty. | Gerain0812/Shutterstock

The U.S. has signaled support for a worldwide agreement to reduce marine plastic pollution. Meanwhile, the EU is drafting stricter export rules, a watchdog group is mapping plastic dump sites, and researchers shared findings on the greenhouse gas impacts of virgin plastic shipments.

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How ‘supercritical’ CO2 can lead to cleaner recycled resin

Published: September 15, 2021
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Extruded opaque sheet of thermoplastic from printed film scrap (left) and translucent sheet produced through a supercritical CO2 extrusion process.

Extruded opaque sheet of thermoplastic from printed film scrap (left) and translucent sheet produced through a supercritical CO2 extrusion process. | Courtesy of AIMPLAS

A form of pressurized carbon dioxide can be used to remove contaminants from post-consumer plastic melt, improving the quality of the final pellets, according to a research organization.

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Digital watermark project advances in Denmark

Published: September 9, 2021
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Material on a conveyor inside a sorting and processing facility.

A pilot project at a facility in Denmark is being backed by a number of packaging and recycling stakeholders. | Nordroden / Shutterstock

A European materials recovery facility will install sorting detection equipment to identify digital watermarks on plastic packaging.

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