The future of recyclable flexible packaging in rPET
Aimplas, the Spanish Plastics Technology Centre, in partnership with Covinil and Eroski, has launched Bottle4Flex, a project to develop 100% recyclable rPET skinpack flexible packaging. This innovative technology creates a transparent "second skin" around the product, enhancing the consumer experience with a 3D view of product quality and easy opening. Its appealing appearance attracts consumers, while manufacturers and retailers appreciate its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. However, the current challenges in recycling multilayer packaging limit its sustainability.
Innovations in recycling
The Bottle4Flex project addresses these challenges by introducing breakthroughs in chemical recycling and polymerisation technologies. The goal is to make multilayer PET fully recyclable, fostering efficient use of recycled materials in the food sector. The initiative is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, as well as the European Union, under the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan supported by Next Generation funds.
Towards a circular economy
To meet the objectives of the European Circular Economy Strategy, the project consortium is focusing on monomaterial films made of rPET, Spain's most widely used and recycled material for trays. However, demand far outpaces supply, highlighting the urgency of developing new recycling systems and circularity models. The project aims to equip flexible films with essential properties such as high flexibility, barrier capacity, and heat-sealing capability, while maintaining high sustainability standards.
Pioneering circular packaging technologies
Among its innovations, Bottle4Flex employs solvolysis processes for recycling, focusing on the partial depolymerisation of PET to enhance its properties. Additionally, technologies like reactive extrusion, combined with the use of monomers and additives, aim to increase the flexibility of recycled rPET. This project marks a crucial step towards a more sustainable and circular approach to plastics production.
