The Belgian company Syensqo has apparently achieved a breakthrough in the recycling of PVDC multilayer packaging. In trials, multilayer food packaging in which polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) serves as a barrier layer could be recycled in polyolefin waste streams.
Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) is used worldwide for multilayer barrier packaging in the food industry, mainly due to its Good oxygen and water vapour barrier properties. Syensqo, a company that emerged from the Solvay chemical group has now succeeded in developing its Ixane polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) successfully. mechanically recycled in a standard polyethylene-based waste stream. Tests by the testing and certification company CSI have shown that multilayer food packaging with Ixan PVDC can be recycled together with PE waste streams as a source material for non-food applications.
„Recyclability is the most important requirement for food packaging today. Multilayer films have excellent properties and are essential for food packaging as they have a strong positive impact on the environment by reducing food waste. However, due to their special composition and structure, they were previously considered impractical for mechanical recycling, which is most commonly used in the industry. Our tests have now shown that film structures made from our Ixan PVDC product are fully compatible with existing mechanical PE recycling. In particular, the resulting recycling can give used food packaging a second life in other applications and open up new opportunities for sustainable material management without the addition of stabilisers.“
Federico Baruffi, Global Marketing Manager Packaging at Syensqo
The tests were carried out with structures for high-barrier meat packaging using PE/EVA/Ixan/EVA/PE multilayer films. The effect of the structures on the recycling process was evaluated in comparison to a reference sample made from real flexible packaging waste.
The tests were carried out in accordance with the EN 13430 standard, which specifies the requirements for the recycling of packaging materials in Europe. The multi-layer Ixan PVDC structures passed all tests without critical problems during grinding, subsequent washing/drying, extrusion/granulation and injection moulding at up to 220 C.
Already a year ago Syensqo and Tomra have joined forces, to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of separating and sorting multi-component plastic structures in which polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) serves as a barrier layer (we have reported).
Source: Syensqo
