A widespread standard product - it has existed for at least a quarter of a century in its 100% virgin plastic version - begins a new life in the circular economy thanks to Crocco, a company based in Vicenza that has developed the first stretch hood packaging film ever made in Italy using 30% post-consumer recycled material.
"At our research and development centre we have been able to create a cold stretch hood film for pallets including 30% recycled material which is able to maintain the same performance as the traditional version made of 100% virgin resin. In addition, we are not talking about an industrial regenerated material, but about a post-consumer one; therefore, a material that most of all represents one of the fundamental links of circular economy", explained Gianmaria Perin (in the picture), product manager at Crocco.
The post-consumer plastic, as the name itself highlights, has already performed the task for which it was created: it was, in fact, "consumed" and after the recycling procedures typical of plastic packaging, thanks to Crocco, it returns to the production floor to be used a second time.
"This solution, for which we obtained the ‘Plastica Seconda Vita’ certificate as a guarantee for customers, goes in the direction of true sustainability (30% less CO2 equivalent emissions are estimated). Some customers - especially in the ceramic sector, where the first tests were carried out two years ago - have already completed the transition to the new version made of post-consumer material. From the viewpoint of the process, this replacement has no cons: there is no need to change the set-up of the machines in any way, and the performance is completely comparable to the stretch hood film made of virgin material", added Ludovico Tomasi, of the research and development department.
Crocco is also completing the last development stage of another version containing 50% post-consumer regenerated material, which will be previewed at the Ipack-Ima 2022 international fair running from 3 to 6 May in Milan.
Finally, the packaging film is part of a broader concept, called "Greenside", developed by Crocco for all its products, which thanks to a process involving the measurement of the carbon footprint throughout the life cycle and the subsequent redefinition of the packaging design, allows the packaging to become carbon neutral by reducing the thickness of the film, using recycled or bio-based materials and compensating for emissions through the carbon credits made available for the environmental projects with a positive impact, as required by the Kyoto Protocol.
