Cardboard-plastic combinations can now be better recycled. The K3 r100 from Greiner Packaging now separates the cardboard sleeve and plastic cup all by itself - even on the way to the recycling plant. The new product is due to be launched on the market this autumn and will be presented at Fachpack.
Cardboard-plastic combinations have several positive sustainability aspects: The cardboard wrap, which can be made from recycled material, gives the plastic cup stability so that it can be produced with particularly thin walls. The cardboard wrap can also be Particularly easy to remove from the cup thanks to a tear-off mechanism, the two components can be disposed of separately and subsequently recycled. As the white or transparent plastic cup is unprinted, it makes excellent recycling material.
„Cardboard-plastic combinations are an all-round sustainable solution. There is only one challenge: consumers are currently being asked to separate the cardboard wrap from the plastic cup. If they separate the cardboard wrap from the plastic cup when disposing of it, the recyclability of the cup is excellent. However, if they do not do this - and these consumers are currently still in the majority - the components are not always correctly recognised in the sorting plant, which makes it difficult to recycle the K3 packaging correctly. As a result, the recyclability of the cups is currently rated rather poorly in some countries.“ Jens Krause, Sales Director and K3 Product Category Manager at Greiner Packaging
With the K3 r100, the materials are already separated during the collection process
With the K3 r100, Greiner Packaging has now developed a solution in which the cardboard wrap separates independently from the plastic cup during the waste collection process, i.e. it can still be used as a container. before the packaging is analysed in the NIR (near infrared) detection arrives at the sorting plant. This significantly increases the recyclability of K3 cups: cardboard and plastic can already be allocated to the correct material streams and recycled during the first sorting process.
Good rating for recyclability
Cyclos-HTP has awarded the K3 r100 (with a standard aluminium lid) a recyclability rating of more than 90 percent in Germany and France. Also RecyClass has developed the K3 r100 according to the RecyClass recyclability methodology and the Design for Recycling guidelines evaluated and certified. The cup was awarded „Class A“ - this stands for the best recyclability of packaging.
„In the best case scenario, of course, the consumer still separates the cardboard wrap from the plastic cup and disposes of the parts properly,“ emphasises Jens Krause. The tear-off solution that the makes separating plastic and cardboard more intuitive and easier, The K3 r100 therefore retains the same colour. Environmentally conscious consumers can therefore play it safe when it comes to recycling.
Greiner Packaging at Fachpack 2021: Hall 7, Stand 332
Source: Greiner Packaging
