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Recycled plastic protects pineapples from sunburn

BASF's IrgaCycle and 3T Industries Sdn Bhd have improved the quality of post-consumer and post-industrial polyolefin material.

Together with the recycling company 3T Industries Sdn Bhd from Malaysia, BASF's IrgaCycle has improved the quality of post-consumer and post-industrial polyolefin material. Now, films made from 100 per cent recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) can be produced for various applications - for example, to protect pineapples from sunburn. 

BASF and 3T Industries Sdn Bhd, a recycling company in Malaysia that works with post-industrial and post-consumer recyclates, are helping pineapple plantations in Malaysia to increase their yields and conserve resources. For the first time, 3T Industries has utilised IrgaCycle UV033 DD from BASF to Production of films made from 100 per cent recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as protective covers for pineapples.

On the one hand, pineapple cultivation requires a warm and humid climate, but at the same time, sunlight and high temperatures of over 32 degrees can severely damage the fruit, which can significantly reduce the marketable yield and greatly reduce the producer's profit. Symptoms include sunburn or fading. A HDPE protector protects the fruit from direct sunlightbut still allows photosynthesis.

"Plastic additives specifically for the agricultural sector are highly customised to meet the needs of customers in order to provide better solutions for crop protection. We offer our customers full support in all matters relating to improving the quality of their recyclates in order to turn them into usable materials in new areas of application."

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Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President, Performance Chemicals Asia Pacific

In the past, 3T Industries used a combination of antioxidants and light stabilisers to meet the producer's performance requirements - the HDPE sleeves had to last the intended four seasons. IrgaCycle offers a Complete solution that can be used immediately by the recycling company without further premixing. In addition, compared to conventional antioxidant systems, it also works efficiently at lower concentrations, which means that the The total quantity of additives required is reduced. This results in simple and accurate dosing, improved product quality and optimisation of the recyclate for use in long-life applications.

"We are using our expertise in recycling technology and post-consumer plastics to offer better solutions to consumers and municipalities. With IrgaCycle, we were able to use a feedstock for the production of another plastic material that contains a high proportion of recyclates to enable more sustainable plastics for agriculture."

PH TanManaging Director of 3T Industries

IrgaCycle was launched on the market in 2021. It is a range of plastic additive combinations, thanks to which plastic recyclates can also be used for the production of high-quality plastics in combinations with new polymer materials. ("virgin materials") can be reused. The additive solution addresses certain quality problems that occur with recycled plastics, such as limited processability, reduced long-term thermal stability and insufficient weather resistance.

Source: BASF

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