Anja Siegesmund leaves the BDE
Change of leadership at the BDE: Executive President Anja Siegesmund hands over her office to Vice President Matthias Harms on 31 January 2026.
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The PrintCYC research initiative has gained further insights into promoting the circular economy of plastic packaging through material recycling. Among other things, it was possible to thermoform recyclate made from PP-based packaging films on thermoforming machines from Kiefel.
Using PU-based printing inks, colour-stable, odourless and defect-free recyclates could be produced from fully printed PP-based packaging films by means of mechanical material recycling and Easily incorporated into flat films and with lower energy consumption on thermoforming machines from Boots can be thermoformed. This will open up new opportunities for packaging manufacturers in the future. New recycling options for post-industrial printed film waste and potentials for zero-waste production along the value chain of PP-based packaging.
Energy savings of up to 20 per cent
Kiefel was able to successfully thermoform both coloured trays and cups from the recyclate-containing PP flat films on the KMD and KTR series machines. „The machine settings had to be practically unchanged compared to the processing of virgin material “, emphasises Olaf Tanner, Head of Project and Product Management in the Packaging division at Kiefel. „The shape, appearance and functionality of the thermoformed, recyclate-containing packaging is so good that it represents a real alternative to non-food packaging made from virgin material.“
In addition, with the increasing proportion of recyclate Savings of up to 20 per cent of heating energy during production of the thermoformed PP cups compared to virgin material can be observed. This effect can even be enhanced by using dark-coloured recyclates due to the better heat absorption. „As a result, we can run our machines with a shorter heating time,“ adds Tanner.
Source: Kiefel GmbH
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